Best Supporting Actress - Chart Updates
Thursday, September 21, 2017 at 1:54PM With Venice, TIFF, and Telluride passed, the Oscar races become clearer. Not crystal clear mind you but apart from films no one has seen (like Spielberg's The Post or Scott's All the Money in the World) we know which dozen or so actresses might want to start thinking about red carpet lewks if the tide turns in their favor. SUPPORTING ACTRESS CHART UPDATES
Ronan and Metcalf in "Lady Bird"
One new intriguing possibility is Tony & Emmy winner Laurie Metcalf in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird. If she's nominated could she complete her triple crown with an Oscar win?
And I know we've asked this before but is Octavia Spencer the Thelma Ritter of her generation? She sure is reliable at warming up a film and giving it some salt of the earth wisdom and comedy, too. Guillermo del Toro's romantic fantasy The Shape of Water could be looking at a triple Oscar play in the acting categories with its mute heroine and her loyal mouthpieces. Both Richard Jenkins as Sally's neighbor and Octavia as her favorite co-worker defend our voiceless heroine and translate for her, too, in numerous scenes. They're an endearing unlikely trio of "little people" up against the goliath of big government, shady military operations, and the broad moustache twirling villiany of Michael Shannon.
Updated Charts: Pic | Director | Supp Actress | Lead Actress (more to come)
Reader Comments (46)
How about Rachel McAdams in "Disobedience" for Supporting Actress?
McAdams got a supporting nomination recently, so she must be well liked, and this part is on the border line of lead (? haven't seen it yet), and both Rachels, Weisz and McAdams have gotten good reviews for it.
Metcalfe got big applause from the audience at my TIFF screening.
Consider adding Rampling after the Venice win. She's got momentum
I feel almost certain now that either Janney or Metcalf will be our winner. I still think Hunter is getting in but I wouldn't have her leading the pack. More at #5 since I'm not even completely sold she'll get in.
If both films get a proper release it's probably Janney's, but Metcalf has the studio for now I'm guessing she'll complete her triple crown by February.
Are people sincerely excited enough about Dunkirk to nominate it for best picture? I know I haven't paid much attention to the summer movie season this year, but usually Nolan's efforts seem a lot buzzier, both critically and commercially, than this one appears to have been. Unlike with other films this year, I haven't gotten the sense that people are rallying behind it to that degree. Have I been off in that assumption?
Octavia Spencer as a three-time Oscar nominee loses its peculiarity the more one digs under the surface of the idea -- widely loved, widely respected, has worked with virtually everyone, always bringing a special something to the table, never getting in the way of the film. She is the quintessential supporting actress.
Is it so wrong that I am already crying imaging Laurie with the trophy?
1 - Will be lovely to see Laurie Metcalf nominated. All the reviews put her on heaven.
2 - today, my predict for supporting actress will be
Laurie Metcalf
Allison Janney
Melissa Leo
Hong Chau
Holly Hunter
But, in my dreams, PFEIFFER will be here for mother! (don't know how) or Murder on Orient Express.
3 - we will have FOUR FEMALE SCREENWRITERS nominated for original screenplay????????? LORD! *-*
Liz Hannah - The Papers
Vanessa Taylor - The shape of the water
Emily V. Gordon - The Big Sick
Greta Gerwig - Lady Bird
Seven girls nominees if
Sofia Coppola - Beguiled
Dee Rees - Mudbound
Jane Anderson - The Wife
will be nominated too? *o*
3 - I like to star a public internet pay for The Wife find a distributor and Glenn receive her WELL DESERVED Oscar.
You know who makes my heart beat faster? Laurie Metcalf the artist; Laurie Metcalf, the woman.
She is a remarkably talented actress across mediums, and an Oscar nomination would be richly deserved. Fingers crossed!
You're seriously sleeping on the Stronger ladies Maslany and Richardson. Have you seen the reviews!?
*public PRAY
al the religions
all the gods
listen to us!
Bening won't happen. And I doubt if "The Shape of Water" is locked in 'best picture' category. It did not win People's Choice Award in Toronto and it's a fantasy movie and we all know that the Academy doesn't love this genre. Spencer - I doubt in her chances too. And she surely is not Thelma Ritter: she already has one Oscar!
I love everything about mother! and Michelle Pfeiffer is impeccable—but you're making the right call, I think.
When I think of reverential, electrifying female star turns in auteur vehicles I think of Moore in A Single Man and Fonda in Youth. Those were wide open Supporting Actress years—remember Maggie Gyllenhaal's Crazy Heart nomination, or the hard-to-pin-down Supporting Actress race in 2015?
It's almost sad that those nominations felt possible for a fleeting moment on Globe nod morning. Michelle's might too—but don't buy into it. As in Moore and Fonda's cases, being lensed and framed as a living legend is the reward for Pfeiffer this time.
I like Octavia but have cooled on her like a few actresses recently inc McDormand,Scott Thomas,Dench,Watts,Streep who seem to do themselves or versions of that persona but rarely anything new but I wait to be proved wrong come December.
Hayden you have mentioned these 2 turns twice and both were my hope & pray nominations,no real Best Pic heat,ltd screen time,not up for Best Pic yet I believed both would be nominated esp Moore but alas nothing,Melissa Leo might be that this year.
Why is Hunter Number One,what was spectacular about her in The Big Sick,I thought Romano who I hadn't heard of before this film was better.
I'd also argue that David E. Kelley is sabotaging Michelle Pfeiffer's Oscar chances.
Wizard of Lies has about as much heat as Phil Spector, Bernard & Doris or Hemingway & Gellhorn. It's gonna get the requisite nominations (because big stars) but it's not going to inspire support in Pfeiffer's big-screen category.
The indignity will be if Michelle misses a Globe nod for mother! but has to attend as a TV nominee/Kelley arm candy—and then lose to Laura Dern.
If Spencer is nominated, she'll join that elite group of Best Supporting Actress Oscar mainstays - the others being Ethel Barrymore, Anne Revere, Agnes Moorehead, Thelma Ritter, Lee Grant, Glenn Close and Cate Blanchett - who managed three BSA nominations in a single decade.
I don't personally get the Octavia Spencer thing... I *loved* her in The Help, and continue to really like her as a person. She is charismatic, funny, and endearing. That being said, I think that as an actress she doesn't bring a lot to the table. She just brings "Octavia". I know that when you become a huge star (Julia Roberts, George Clooney, etc) it becomes hard to distinguish actor from person... but as someone that has not done too many roles, she should be disappearing into her characters. All I see is the same sweet, warm, lovable person she is in real life. I don't find that to be incredible acting, I think she's just a great person and that translates when she reads the various lines that she is given. Not IMO a three time academy award nominated actress level of acting. Again, I like her... but I tend to fall for actors that stretch themselves with each role, and don't do the same thing... she's not that person.
Obviously haven't seen most of these films yet, but I'm rooting for Janney. If she's nominated, she'll be a force.
Rooting for:
Allison Janney
Kristin Scott Thomas
Laurie Metcalf
Michelle Pfeiffer
Rachel McAdams
Joey exactly how I feel I saw mother! and Michelle was so fresh and exciting and she's been around for a long time.
Joey - I once read that one of the hardest things to bring to the screen as an actor is sincere decency.
Octavia is one such actor - another reason that she's the new Thelma Ritter.
We should cherish her.
Was that a negative, disparaging remark about my son? About my Billy?
I've already said it. I fully agree with you! Octavia Spencer is the Thelma Ritter of the new Century.
Oh! One more thing. Janney and Metcalf? Sorry, but are we talking Tonys or Oscars? ;)
I feel bad for Pfeiffer. All this hype about mother, she looks great in the trailer, and then it flops. So disappointing. It just goes to show that you can't make any predictions about a movie until the movie is out. I look forward to seeing these movies though in the fall, because the summer movie season (as usual) has been pretty barren for movie lovers. The only recent films I have liked are Dolores and Beach Rats. Good luck ladies.
If Octavia is the new Thelma Ritter she needs to do something as wonderful as Pickup on South Street.
Why is people predicting McAdams when the film has no studio and likely ends in 2018.
I will be mad if Gyllenhaal is predicted but not Maslany when her reviews are equal (Or even better)
Michelle remains my number one unless televised precursors snubs her for nods.
now we wait to see who drops down from lead to torpedo all these women's chances...
par -- CYNICAL. But also true ;)
@Nathaniel @par OH. Claire Foy and Tatiana Maslany as the supporting wives are almost certainly going supporting. I also think Williams for All the Money in the World will. And I actually expect at least one of those 3 to get in, if not 2.
Nathaniel, I'm curious as to why do you insist on doubting Phantom Thread?
Do you know something we don't? Otherwise I think you should have faith in your greatest living filmmaker.
I think three very distinctive moms...Holly Hunter, Allison Janney, Laurie Metcalf will be nominated and I will hold my breath when they announce the winner between the latter twos. (Unless some women from The Post come out strong at the last minute and spoil their chances, of course.)
I'd be surprised if Hunter's buzz sustains (it's already died down to close to zero, no? Like maybe she'll get an indie nod). I think roles in buzzier pictures will take priotlrity. We'll see.
Nathaniel, I'm curious as to why do you insist on doubting Phantom Thread?
Do you know something we don't? Otherwise I think you should have faith in your greatest living filmmaker.
When Anderson left the Julianne Moore business so did Nathaniel's patience for his work.
You may deify Michelle, but she will not be nominated for mother!
It will be interesting to see if Holly Hunter can sustain the interest in her performance while Allison Janney, Laurie Metcalf, Tatiana Maslany, and Octavia Spencer start popping up throughout the season. Not to mention Juno Temple and maybe Carrie Coon from The Post (she seems to have the largest supporting role in The Post ensemble, and the actress herself is gaining a lot of fans in Hollywood) potentially spoiling the race. I could see Hunter going all the way to Oscar glory, or being the Oprah Winfrey in The Butler miss of the year (popular actress in summer hit who was assumed a shoo-in and was dumped at the last minute).
I'd love to see Miranda Richardson back in the discussion.
I agree Pfeiffer is looking less and less likely, especially as she won't campaign anywhere near as hard as her competition. However, I don't think she's completely out of the race... there's definitely a chance she might pick up a few critics prizes here and there, mother! was loved by critics (if not the public) and they might want to reward it somewhere. And then she's front and centre of that second Orient Exprers trailer. If that's well reviewed and makes good money, combined with a couple of critics prizes, it might reignite that 'wow, we've been sleeping on this legend for too long' feeling, which could carry her through to a nom?
Sight unseen (for me) it feels like it's Janney or Metcalf's for the win.
Adam, I just saw Stronger. Jake and Tatiana are very good and the film is SURPRISINGLY good.
Miranda Richardson gives such a supporting actressy performance (she is pretty fantastic a la Melissa Leo) that I am surprised she is not currently in the conversation. It's such a dynamic, ballsy turn I can totally see her picking up some surprise critics trophies by the end of December. Especially as the film is really a lot better than the trailer makes out.
I am not convinced Mary J. can get in. Don't know what it is.
I think Pfeiffer still has a chance tbh.
As an actor myself, I gotta say that Octavia Spencer is extremely talented. She has such a grounded, dignified, warm presence on screen and she makes what she does look very simple and effortless, but it really isn't. She may not be a chameleon, but she's extremely skilled. She doesn't ever do too much, nor too little. She does exactly what the role/film calls for. That's why she works as much as she does, aside from being a lovely person. Plus, she's funny.
Yeah Stronger is quiet, understated and the three acting turns are lovely.
There aren't any new layers to Octavia in Shape of Water but I really like her.
What a year this will be - Nicole, Reese, Susan, Jessica nominated for Emmys and Allison and Laurie nominated for Oscars.
For people doubting The Shape of Water, just remember that the Academy went in so hard for Guillermo del Toro's last critically acclaimed dark fantasy film, Pan's Labyrinth. He managed an Original Screenplay nomination for a foreign language fantasy film. I wouldn't sleep on him working in his wheelhouse with a far more Academy-loved cast and in English.
By God why didn't Michelle Pfeiffer land one of the mother! roles in The Big Sick, I, Tonya or Lady Bird. Winning an Oscar is really pure serendipity.
I thought Sophia Lillis was nomination worthy for her luminous performance in IT. All the cast were super but she really stood out for me
I feel like Temple or Maslany might have higher chances so they can fulfill that "ingeanue" slot.
I am getting a distinctly Patricia Clarkson in PIECES OF APRIL vibe from Metcalfe. In terms of beloved actress in small scale indie finally breaking through after a crazy run of good performances.