Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2024: Results

10. Denzel Washington in Gladiator II - Washington gives an entertaining performance that offers some much needed gravitas to his film though he is limited by the film's weaknesses. 

Best Scene: Protecting Dondus.

9. Richard Roundtree in Thelma - Roundtree gives an endearing performance that offers the right straight man contrast to Squib's lead performance.

Best Scene: Argument with Thelma.

8. Jason Bateman in Carry-On - Bateman gives an entertaining though also menacing portrayal of a particularly caustic mercenary. 

Best Scene: Woke up. 

7. David Jonsson - Jonsson elevates his film best he can by giving an endearing yet appropriately synthetic portrayal of both the best companion and a more enigmatic sinister presence. 

Best Scene: Back to himself. 

6. Karren Karagulian in Anora - Karagulian gives a consistently hilarious portrayal of constant intense frustration though just a hint of growth in there as well.  

Best Scene: Home invasion

5. Franz Rogowski in Bird - Rogowski is going out an extreme limb and makes his off-beat character feel absolutely real and human. 

Best Scene: Arm twist.

4. Austin Butler in Dune Part II - Butler brings such tremendous bravado to make a memorable sadist though also remarkably finds nuance within the type. 

Best Scene: "May thy knife chip and shatter"

3. Simon McBurney in Nosferatu - McBurney finally gets his chance to do more than his usual type and runs away with his chance through his captivating portrayal of a very particular religious fervor. 

Best Scene: First scene in the mad house. 

2. Adam Pearson in A Different Man - Adam Pearson gives a distinctly larger than life, approachable, charming, humble, hilarious, yet earnest, likeable performance though also successfully as a very particular tormentor. 

Best Scene: Unexpected arrival with Edward's work friends. 

1. Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing - Good predictions Luke, Bryan, Jonathan, A, Tony, Emi Grant, Razor, Perfectionist, Calvin, Matt, Ytrewq, John Smith, RatedRStar & Brazinterma. Maclin gives my favorite male supporting performance of the year as he manages to give both a layered portrayal of a man finding his voice as an actor, while also giving an incredibly moving and heartwarming portrayal of a prisoner finding purpose and so convincingly becoming a better man.

Best Scene: "To Be Or Not To Be"

Overall Ranking:

1. Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing
2. Guy Pearce in The Brutalist
3. Adam Pearson in A Different Man
4. Yura Borisov in Anora
5. Jeremy Strong in The Apprentice - 5
6. Selton Mello in I'm Still Here 
7. Simon McBurney in Nosferatu
8. Austin Butler in Dune Part II
9. Franz Rogowski in Bird
10. Willem Dafoe in Nosferatu
11. Bill Skarsgård in Nosferatu
12. Karren Karagulian in Anora
13. Dennis Quaid in The Substance 
14. David Jonsson in Alien Romulus
15. Jason Bateman in Carry-On
16. Richard Roundtree in Thelma - 4.5
17. Vache Tovmasyan in Anora
18. Sean San José in Sing Sing
19. Javier Bardem in Dune Part II
20. Robert Gwisdek in Dying
21. Edward Norton in A Complete Unknown 
22. Jay O. Sanders in His Three Daughters
23. Samuel L. Jackson in The Piano Lesson
24. Peter Macon in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
25. Tom Burke in Furiosa
26. Raghav Juyal in Kill
27. Paul Raci in Sing Sing
28. Sean Dino Johnson in Sing Sing
29. Mosi Eagle in Sing Sing
30. David Giraudy in Sing Sing
31. Patrick Griffin in Sing Sing
    
32. James Williams in Sing Sing
33. Joe Alwyn in The Brutalist
34. Denzel Washington in Gladiator II 
    
35. Cory Michael Smith in Saturday Night
36. Mark Eydelshteyn in Anora
37. Stephen McKinley Henderson in Civil War
38. Malcolm McDowell in Thelma
39. Willem Dafoe in Kinds of Kindness 
40. Ben Chaplin in September 5
41. Ashish Vidyarthi in Kill 
42. Alessandro Nivola in The Brutalist
43. Antonio Banderas in Babygirl
44. Dylan O'Brien in Saturday Night
45. Arthur Conti in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
46. Jesse Plemons in Civil War
47. Barry Keoghan in Bird
48. Hugh Jackman in Deadpool & Wolverine 
49. Don Johnson in Rebel Ridge
50. Harris Dickinson in Babygirl 
51. Lamorne Morris in Saturday Night
52. Martin Donovan in The Apprentice
53. Pedro Pascal in The Wild Robot
54. Kodi Smit-McPhee in Memoir of a Snail
55. Ravi Kishan in Laapataa Ladies
56. Ralph Ineson in Nosferatu
57. Brendan Gleeson in Joker Folie A Deux 
58. Ronald Zehrfeld in Dying 
59. Tommy Dewey in Saturday Night 
60. Pierfrancesco Favino in Maria
61. Kesav Binoy Kiron in Girls Will Be Girls
62. Guilherme Silveira in I'm Still Here
63. Danny McCarthy in Good One
64. Antonio Savoia in I'm Still Here
65. Michael Fassbender in Kneecap - 4
66. Robbie Williams in Better Man
67. Leigh Gill in Joker Folie a Deux
68. Sergio Castellitto in Conclave
69. Corey Hawkins in The Piano Lesson
70. Kevin Bacon in Maxxxine
71. Josh Brolin in Dune Part II 
72. Benjamin Clementine in Blitz
73. Nicholas Podany in Saturday Night
74. Michael Shannon in The Bikeriders
75. Stellan Skarsgård in Dune Part II 
76. Ed Harris in Love Lies Bleeding
77. Steve Pemberton in Better Man
78. Peter Sarsgaard in September 5
79. Isaach de Bankolé in The Brutalist
80. David Webber in Hard Truths 
    
81. Scoot McNairy in A Complete Unknown
82. Matthew Rhys in Saturday Night
83. Kevin Bacon in Beverly Hills Cop: Axle F
84. Chris Hemsworth in Furiosa
85. Haluk Bilginer in Maria
86. Victor Slezak in The Order
87. Jonathan Bailey in Wicked
88. Hans-Uwe Bauer in Dying
89. Jonathan Hyde in The Brutalist
90. Michael Potts in The Piano Lesson
91. Alexander Karim  in Gladiator II
92. Kevin Costner in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
93. Timothy Spall in Wicked Little Letters 
94. Kit Connor in The Wild Robot
95. Aleksei Serebryakov in Anora
96. Raul Dial in Didi
97. Carlos Diehz in Conclave
98. Tuwaine Barrett in Hard Truths
99. Charlie Carrick in The Apprentice
100. J.K. Simmons in Saturday Night
101. Winston Duke in The Fall Guy 
102. Channing Tatum in Blink Twice
103. Lucian Msamati in Conclave
104. Mamoudou Athie in Kinds of Kindness
105. Damon Herriman in The Bikeriders
106. Blair Underwood in Longlegs
107. Kevin Durand in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes 
108. Jeff Goldblum in Wicked
109. Jon Hamm in Transformers One
110. Damon Herriman in Better Man
111. Jeff Fahey in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
112. Ralph Ineson in The First Omen
113. Kiefer Sutherland in Juror No. 2
114. Jovan Adepo in His Three Daughters
115. Will Sharpe in A Real Pain
116. Shia Labeouf in Megalopolis 
117. Cooper Hoffman in Saturday Night
118. Jason Schwartzman in The Last Showgirl
119. Norman Reedus in The Bikeriders 
120. Antonio Banderas in Paddington in Peru
121. Anand Sami in All We Imagine As Light
122. Dave Merheje in Sometimes I Think About Dying
123. Bill Nighy in The Wild Robot
124. Brian F. O'Byrne in Conclave
125. Sam Worthington in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
126. Alex Wolff in A Quiet Place Day One 
127. Chris Messina in Juror No. 2
128. Reece Shearsmith in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
129. Dave Bautista in The Last Showgirl
130. Motell Foster in La cocina
131. Hugh Bonneville in Paddington in Peru
132. Marc Maron in The Order
133. Masahiro Motoki in Touch
134. Pierfrancesco Favino in The Count of Monte Cristo
135. Keegan-Michael Key in Transformers One
136. Peter Dinklage in Wicked - 3.5
137. Dave Bautista in Dune Part II
138. Pitobash in Monkey Man
139. Channing Tatum in Deadpool & Wolverine
140. Anthony Ramos in Twisters
141. Simon Rex in Blink Twice
142. John Ashton in Beverly Hills Cop: Axle F
143. Mike Faist in The Bikeriders
144. John Lithgow in Conclave
145. Matt Berry in The Wild Robot
146. Kurt Egyiawan in A Real Pain
147. Kyle MacLachlan in Blink Twice
148. Bill Camp in Drive Away Dolls 
149. Emory Cohen in The Bikeriders
150. William H. Macy in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
151. Boyd Holbrook in The Bikeriders
152. Gabriel Basso in Juror No. 1
153. Judge Reinhold in Beverly Hills Cop: Axle F
154. Willem Dafoe in Saturday Night
155. Mark Hamill in The Wild Robot
156. Elias Koteas in Janet Planet
157. Sikandar Kher in Monkey Man
158. Boyd Holbrook in A Complete Unknown
159. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in Beverly Hills Cop: Axle F 
     
160. Stanley Tucci in Conclave
161. J.K. Simmons in Juror No. 2
162. Joe Alwyn in Kinds of Kindness
163. Michael Shannon in A Different Man
164. Giancarlo Esposito in Maxxxine
165. Michael Rooker in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
166. Bobby Cannavale in Maxxine
167. Brandon Perea in Twisters
168. Leigh Gill in Blitz
169. Kodi Smit-McPhee in Maria
170. Dean Norris in Carry-On
171. Laurence Fishburne in Transformers One
172. Pedro Pascal in Gladiator II
173. Chris Evans in Deadpool & Wolverine
174. Paapa Essiedu in The Outrun
175. Wesley Snipes in Deadpool & Wolverine
176. Ed Begley Jr. in Strange Darling
177. Charles Dance in The First Omen
178. Ethan Slater in Wicked
179. Will Patton in Janet Planet
180. Peter Kay in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl
181. Matthew MacFadyen in Deadpool & Wolverine
182. Stephen Graham in Young Woman and the Sea
183. Aaron Chang in Didi
184. David Denman in Rebel Ridge
185. Willem Dafoe in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
186. Louis Black in Inside Out 2
187. Robert Smigel in Between The temples
188. Bill Nighy in The First Omen
189. Arturo Castro in Roadhouse 
190. Paul Weller in Blitz
191. Emory Cohen in Rebel Ridge 
192. Steve Coogan in Joker Folie a Deux
193. Shea Whigham in Fancy Dance
194. Ian Bliss in Late Night with the Devil
195. M. Emmett Walsh in Brothers
196. Andy Samberg in Lee
197. Steve Buscemi in Transformers One
198. Daveed Diggs in Nickel Boys
199. Hridhu Haroon in All We Imagine As Light
200. Oded Fehr in La cocina
201. Dwayne Johnson in Moana 2
202. Marton Csokas in Cuckoo
203. Bastien Bouillon in The Count of Monte Cristo
204. John Turturro in The Room Next Door
205. Tony Hale in Inside Out 2 
206. Tim McInnerny in The End
207. Michael Shannon in The End
208. Lennie James in The End - 3
209. Jason Schwartzman in Queer
210. Joseph Quinn in Gladiator II
211. Harris Dickinson in Blitz
212. Stephen Dillane in The Outrun
213. Christopher Walken in Dune Part II
214. Laurence Fishburne in Megalopolis
215. Drew Starkey in Queer
216. Nicholas Braun in Saturday Night
217. Jamie Campbell Bower in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
218. Dave Franco in Love Lies Bleeding
219. Joaquim de Almeida in Roadhouse
220. Tim McInnerny in Gladiator II
221. Percy Hynes White in My Old Ass
222. Danny Huston in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
223. Colman Domingo in Drive Away Dolls
224. Giancarlo Esposito in Megalopolis
225. Rhys Auteri in Late Night With the Devil
226. Lukas Gage in Roadhouse
227. Haley Joel Osment in Blink Twice
228. Andy Nyman in Wicked
229. Topher Grace in Heretic
230. Matt Damon in Drive Away Dolls 
231. Fred Hechinger in Thelma 
232. Christopher Eccleston in Young Woman and the Sea
233. Harry Lawtey in Joker Folie a Deux
234. Dustin Hoffman in Megalopolis
235. Steven Michael Quezada in Strange Darling
236. Justin Theroux in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
     
237. Matt Wood in Saturday Night
238. Aaron Taylor-Johnson - Nosferatu
239. Douglas Hodge in We Live In Time
240. Dan Fogler in A Complete Unknown
241. Alexander Skarsgård in Lee
242. Aaron Stanford in Deadpool & Wolverine 
243. Jon Batiste in Saturday Night 
244. Edgar Ramirez in Emilia Perez 
245. Ray Fisher in The Piano Lesson 
246. Fred Hechinger in Nickel Boys
247. Gwilym Lee in Here 
248. Scoot McNairy in Nightbitch - 2.5
249. Nicolas Cage in Longlegs
250. Dan Stevens in Cuckoo
251. Logan Marshall-Green in Carry-On
252. Jonathan Langdon in Trap
253. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in The Fall Guy
254. Luke Wilson in Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 
255. Austin Amelio in Hit Man
256. Jon Voight in Megalopolis
257. John David Washington in The Piano Lesson
258. Hamish Linklater in Nickel Boys
259. Stephen Graham in Blitz
260. Archie Renaux in Alien Romulus
261. C.J. Wilson in Drive Away Dolls
262. Billy Magnussen in Roadhouse
263. Joey Slotnick in Drive Away Dolls 
264. Tony Hale in Woman of the Hour
265. Mark Ivanir in Emilia Perez 
266. Fred Hechinger in Gladiator II 
267. Tye Sheridan in The Order
268. Bowen Yang in Wicked 
269. Theo Rossi in Carry-On - 2
270. Brendan Fraser in Brothers
271. Pete Holmes in Woman of the Hour
272. Mathew Shear in Between The Temples
273. Spike Fearn in Alien Romulus
274. Simon Prast in Maxxxine - 1.5
275. Dean Norris in The Six Triple Eight
276. Stéphane Ly-Cuong in Emilia Perez - 1
277. Paul Bettany in Here - 3 Wiseaus
278. Connor McGregor in Roadhouse - 0

Next: 2024 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2024: Jason Bateman in Carry-On

Jason Bateman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying The Traveler in Carry-On. 

Carry-On is a fairly stupid, but often enjoyable, action movie following a TSA agent Ethan (Taron Egerton) as he’s made the pawn of a mercenary executing a terrorist plot. 

Jason Bateman made his name for his various comedic sitcom roles with his particularly wry and dry energy, though the last decade or so has been expanding his range including his very impressive work in The Gift and his said to be strong work in Ozark. So I suppose what better to show off a bit more range by playing the villain in a stupid action movie, which I think actually is in many ways a fine art, separating the real coaster actors to the ones who really will devote themselves even to fairly dumb material. Well Bateman proves himself in the latter category, and a particularly clever casting for the film as while Bateman is playing an atypical role for himself, it utilizes aspects of his presence effectively. Bateman isn’t just playing the role as he would Michael Bluth in Arrested Development, but certain elements of that performance are utilized by him however to an alternative impact. Although we get a brief scene as a shadowy figure murdering someone in the opening of the film, we also get The Traveler briefly deciding on a new target for the plan, the real introduction of the character comes via voice role, to the point I pondered if he was going to be full Kiefer Sutherland in Phone Booth, which this film heavily lifts from, by being a largely vocal performance, after our hero Ethan puts in an earpiece from the Traveler, where he begins his evil scheme. Bateman’s vocal performance alone is great because while he doesn’t use his dry sitcom energy much of the time, Bateman does have a matter of fact quality in his performance that cuts right down to it in a rather effective fashion. The menace in the character comes really from the innate confidence in Bateman’s voice in that he never really raises his voice during this period as he threatens Ethan’s wife. Bateman yet has a very easy menace within his performance largely through his very acerbic vocal delivery where there’s a slightly hectoring tone more than anything when threatening Ethan to get him to do what he wants. Bateman’s approach creates menace through the ease in which he speaks essentially as a man of much experience in this sort of process and the way he goes about it with Ethan is just another easy target for him. 

Naturally because clearly in addition to watching Phone Booth, the Traveler also watched Collateral, his manipulations of Ethan to do what he says, also must go along with some moral insults on Ethan’s lowly place in his life in addition to constantly and as calmly threatening Ethan as much as he can. Bateman really makes these lines sing which honestly would have easily been absurdly over the top if played straight into the villainy. Bateman’s though easy going approach where he very much is offering commentary where Bateman emphasizes the casual game he’s playing when insulting Ethan about his failures to be a cop. Bateman’s tone creates a convincing menace through the character’s insidious approach even ties into his bothering Ethan about his whole life, as Bateman’s approach emphasizes that as much as he’s doing his job, this is what he enjoys very much doing. Bateman’s aggressively cynical lines he throws at Ethan that are both browbeating and misanthropic, as someone with particular comfort with his whole existence and his general selfishness and hatred is just a casual thing for him. Even when giving a long speech about a tribe killing a thief’s children, Bateman’s avoids the easy potential pretentious villain speech by unraveling like a teacher of many years, only amplifying his voice just a bit at the end as he finally threatens, but even then Bateman builds to it so naturally that makes his villainy convincing rather than fanciful. Something that continues when he does finally appear in person, where Bateman doesn’t lose his menace, despite Bateman not looking like the most physically imposing guy innately. But Bateman’s callousness he makes so natural with all his villain exposition makes it all work as he manages to elevate every bit of writing he gets, while also making the Traveler properly hateable not trying to force the hand. When the plan starts getting trickier as Ethan fights back, however the Traveler finds a way to get back in control each time. Bateman manages to finely adjust his Michael Bluth in some ways, in playing the frustrations of the traveler when Ethan temporarily gets the upper hand, even getting to say “buddy” once in his annoyance. Which as much as Bateman is playing with his presence, he does so successfully while still maintaining tension and instead amplifies it with his dryness making the Traveler far less generic than he would’ve been if you put even a decent standard villain actor in the role. Even doing so mostly without going for comedy, though I will say the one time he does so directly with his delivery of “setting up my parachute and my bomb” is a rather hilarious bit of weaponized dryness on his part. And it wouldn’t be a proper action movie villain performance without a satisfying death scene, which Bateman gets a good one where he gets locked into a sealed freezer with his biological weapon bomb, and Bateman’s most effective in just completely losing any dryness whatsoever and bringing the raw physical intensity of someone fighting for his life as he decays from the inside out. Bateman makes this whole film better by his presence, as it would’ve been easy enough to be like his co-star Theo Rossi who plays into the worst of the genre and just takes a dumb action role as an excuse to overact. Bateman makes no such excuses giving a genuinely devoted turn that easily elevates his material and creates a proper antagonist. 

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2024

And the Nominees Were Not:

Adam Pearson in A Different Man

Clarence Maclin in Sing Sing

Simon McBurney in Nosferatu

Richard Roundtree in Thelma

Franz Rogowski in Bird

Feel free to predict These Five, Those Five, Or Both. 

David Jonsson in Alien Romulus

Jason Bateman in Carry-on

Karren Karagulian in Anora

Austin Butler in Dune Part II

Denzel Washington in Gladiator II

Alternate Best Actor 2015: Results

10. Johnny Depp in Black Mass - Depp returns to form here for an effectively brutal depiction of a vicious mobster.

Best Scene: Whitey tries to explain why he wasn't a rat.

9. Ben Mendelsohn in Mississippi Grind - Ben Mendelsohn gives an endearing and moving depiction of a gambler with his work being particularly well amplified by his amazing chemistry with his co-star Ryan Reynolds.

Best Scene: Gerry plays a piano.

8. Michael B. Jordan in Creed - Jordan gives a great portrayal of a man with the passion to find his own path though with the frustrations of a son trying to overcome the shadow of his father.

Best Scene: "I wasn't a mistake"

7. Jason Segel in The End of the Tour - Segel gives a fascinating portrait of David Foster Wallace capturing his personal idiosyncrasies along with his personal philosophy, intelligence, and vulnerabilities.

Best Scene: Lipsky asks Wallace about his depression.

6. Michael Fassbender in Macbeth - Michael Fassbender offers a unique and powerful alternative interpretation of the tragic Scot, as man slowly destroyed by madness from his post traumatic stress.

Best Scene: Macbeth learns of the fate of his wife.

5. Ben Foster in The Program - Foster brings the right out of control vanity and ego to his Lance Armstrong, but still offers just enough sympathy for the man.

Best Scene: Lance says he'll clean up the sport himself. 

4. Jason Bateman in The Gift - Jason Bateman offers one of the most realistic depictions of a bully you'll find in a film, but goes further to still instill this sort of man with a very real humanity.

Best Scene: The final gift.

3. Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes - McKellen offers not only his own effective approach to the well worn character, but also goes deeper to realize the personal difficulties of being such a man in heartbreaking detail.

Best Scene: Mr. Holmes and Ann.

2. Tom Hardy in Legend - Tom Hardy gives two great performances, one appropriately outrageous and entertaining as deranged mad man, and the other appropriately charming and moving as a potentially good man who allows himself to fall down the same path as his brother.

Best Scene: The Krays come to blows. 

1. Jacob Tremblay in Room - Good predictions Luke and Anonymous. This year came down to several performances for me, and it's a great year, despite what perhaps the lead actor nominations might allow one to believe. My choice, the choice that I'm picking, yes right exactly now must be chosen, yes the choice. Well obviously I already chose, but this one was particularly difficult as there was not a single performance that just stood out to me, not in a bad way mind you, but rather I had to choose simply through work that I equally loved. Anyway my choice is the youngest of all the nominees yet his work is no less captivating. Tremblay's work is unassuming yet tremendous, as he carries his film so eloquently depicting a quiet yet so powerful depiction of a boy's tumultuous journey to discover the world.

Best Scene: Preparing to leave the room. 

Overall Rank:

1. Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes
2. Paul Dano in Love & Mercy
3. Jacob Tremblay in Room
4. Tom Hardy in Legend
5. Tom Courtenay in 45 Years
6. Jason Bateman in The Gift
7. Christopher Plummer in Remember 
   
8. Leland Orser in Faults
9. Ben Foster in The Program 
10. Tom Hardy in Mad Max: Fury Road
11. Michael Fassbender in Macbeth
12. Jason Segel in The End of the Tour
13. Leonardo DiCaprio in The Revenant
14. Michael B. Jordan in Creed 
15. Kurt Russell in Bone Tomahawk
16. John Cusack in Love & Mercy 
17. Christopher Abbott in James White
    
18. Abraham Attah in Beasts of No Nation
19. Tom Hanks in Bridge of Spies 
20. Viggo Mortensen in Far From Men 
21. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau in A Second Chance
    
22. Tobey Maguire in Pawn Sacrifice 
23. Ben Mendelsohn in Mississippi Grind
24. Ryan Reynolds in Mississippi Grind 
25. Andrew Garfield in 99 Homes 
26. Ralph Fiennes in A Bigger Splash
    
27. Adam Driver in Hungry Hearts
    
28. John Boyega in Star Wars: The Force Awakens 
29. Patrick Wilson in Bone Tomahawk
30. Joel Edgerton in Black Mass 
31. Jesse Eisenberg in The End of the Tour
32. Johnny Depp in Black Mass
33. Jason Mitchell in Straight Outta Compton
    
34. Domhnall Gleeson in Ex Machina
35. Michael Fassbender in Steve Jobs
36. Song Kang-ho in The Throne
37. Rolf Holger Lassgård in A Man Called Ove
38. Antonythasan Jesuthasan in Dheepan
39. Colin Farrell in The Lobster 
40. Al Pacino in Danny Collins
    
41. Jason Clarke in Everest  
42. O'Shea Jackson Jr. in Straight Outta Compton
    
43. Matt Damon in The Martian  
44. Corey Hawkins in Straight Outta Compton
    
45. Reda Kateb in Far From Men
46. Mathias Schoenaerts in A Bigger Splash
    
47. Sharlto Copley in Chappie 
48. Frederick Lau in Victoria
    
49. Vincent Lindon in The Measure of a Man 
50. Antonio Bolívar in Embrace of the Serpent
    
51. Nilbio Torres in Embrace of the Serpent
    
52. Géza Röhrig in Son of Saul
    
53. Daniel Craig in Spectre
54. Bryan Cranston in Trumbo
55. Michael Fassbender in Slow West
56. Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation 
57. Kevin Bacon in Cop Car
58. Pilou Asbæk in A War
59. Ulrik Munther in The Here After
    
60. Mathias Schoenaerts in A Little Chaos
    
61. Tom Hardy in Child 44
62. Chang Chen in The Assassin
    
63. Buddy Duress in Heaven Knows What
    
64. Tom Hiddleston in Crimson Peak
65. Colin Firth in Kingsman: The Secret Service 
66. Armie Hammer in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
67. Henry Cavill in The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
68. Paul Rudd in Ant-Man
69. Robert De Niro in The Intern 
70. Vin Diesel in Furious 7
71. Liam Neeson in Run All Night
72. Richard Madden in Cinderella
73. Taron Egerton in Kingsman: The Secret Service 
74. Joseph Gordon-Levitt in The Walk 
75. Alex Jennings in The Lady in the Van
    
76. James Freedson-Jackson in Cop Car
77. Hays Wellford in Cop Car
78. Jake Gyllenhaal in Southpaw
79. Bill Hader in Trainwreck
80. Noah Schnapp in The Peanuts Movie
81. Sean Penn in The Gunman
82. Kodi Smit-McPhee in Slow West
83. David Thewlis in Anomalisa
84. Chris Pratt in Jurassic World 
85. Joaquin Phoenix in Irrational Man
86. Michael Caine in Youth 
87. Chris Hemsworth in The Heart of the Sea
88. Will Smith in Concussion
    
89. Dev Patel in Chappie 
90. Ryan Reynolds in Woman in Gold
    
91. Yoo Ah-in in The Throne
92. Nick Cannon in Chi-Raq
    
93. Channing Tatum in Jupiter Ascending 
94. Mark Ruffalo in Infinitely Polar Bear 
95. Asa Butterfield in 10,000 Saints
    
96. Eddie Redmayne in The Danish Girl

Next Year: 1962 Supporting

Alternate Best Actor 2015: Jason Bateman in The Gift

Jason Bateman did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Simon Callum in The Gift.

The Gift is an effective psychological thriller about a married couple Simon and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) moving into a new home though their lives are quickly changed when they run into an old school "friend" of Simon's named Gordo (Joel Edgerton).

The old suburban set psychological thriller is being a bit dusted off here in that the genre's popularity seems to have waned a bit at least when compared to its prevalence in the 80's and 90's. As is often the case for this sort of story it does start simply enough with a normal married couple. Jason Bateman is already somewhat unusual choice to be even as the lead of psychological thriller, given his background mostly consists of fairly light comedies. To be fair he's often the straight man which might seem like it could possibly translate to the role of the normal guy having to deal with someone who seems a bit off. Bateman does not play it as his usual straight man and does not take his usual sardonic approach though. Bateman instead does a good job here of at first just seeming normal enough as Simon goes about with his wife in setting up his new life. His chemistry with Hall is nicely handled in a fairly unassuming way and the sense of their few years of marriage is well realized by both of them. With their great new house and a great new job for Simon everything does appear to be on the up until he accidentally runs into Gordo. Gordo though does not seem to be too problematic at first despite an awkward first meeting that leads him to come over for dinner.

Bateman's very good in these early interactions between Simon and Gordo. Bateman delivers the proper enough reactions to the man as though just to be a gracious host. There is the undercurrent of a certain unease that Bateman brings that could perhaps just be due to Gordo's peculiar behavior, but it only seems to grow whenever Gordo directly refers their old school days. Bateman carries this certain hastiness when Simon is forced to talk about it, as though he wants to get over with such conversations as soon as possible. It's not an excessive trepidation that Bateman brings as he conveys a man who really wants to simply keep the past as some pretty vague memories, nothing more. As Gordo continues to insist upon himself frequently appearing unannounced, Bateman only continues to grow a definite distaste in this. There is only a real disdain in his voice whenever he speaks about Gordo with anyone else as, Bateman makes it clear there is not even the slightest hint of affection in Simon for the man. Simon though still seems like a normal enough man dealing with just an unpleasant situation. A breaking point for Simon though finally comes when Gordo invites the two of them to a dinner party that only includes Simon, Robyn and their host.

At this point Simon mocks Gordo, when he's not around, and Bateman is terrific because of again just how much venom he brings to this. When it comes to the point when he's had enough and basically wants to tell Gordo to stop bothering them, it's a great scene for Bateman. Bateman does not allow this to be something easy for Gordo, because of how cruel he makes Simon as every word seems to purposefully try to antagonize Gordo a bit. There's a forceful pompousness that Bateman brings as Simon tells Gordo that there will be no friendship, and Bateman importantly does not make this a clean cut. Bateman instead shows Simon's method more like a rusty razor which instead of cleaning removing the problem leaves a painful infection. After this point the thriller aspects seem to begin as the Callums' dog disappears, and their fish, a gift from Gordo, are poisoned. Simon seems to adjust back as the normal guy dealing with a problem though, and Bateman is good by portraying the distress and legitimate concern over the situation. Things seem to quickly settle down with Gordo though and my favorite subversion of the genre occurs when their dog returns unharmed, yet it appears as though really Simon is not our average protagonist for such a thriller as even when Gordo's not around there's something amiss about his behavior.

Simon badgers Robyn over her use of pills that seemingly left her unconscious. A legitimate concern no doubt but Bateman makes Simon's reaction most problematic due an unpleasant aggressiveness. There is some concern there, but Bateman reveals something vile in how hidden any possible warmth feels in the moment. This side of him shows itself also at his work when Simon marks down the name of his rival for a promotion, as Bateman brings this horrible assurance that already suggests that Simon is planning something for this man. As it becomes clear that Simon is not merely this great guy, Bateman is fantastic because of how naturally he reveals this. He does not suddenly make Simon a villain or a different man, but rather shows the bad that was always there. Bateman does not make this something that randomly appears out of nowhere. He instead portrays this behavior as a personal defense mechanism of sorts as whenever he's pushed into a corner, or just has to deal with something slightly inconvenient this worst side of Simon's comes out. That worst side having developed when he was younger since he was a bully in school where his main target of torment had been Gordo even spreading a rumor which basically ruined his life.

There's an outstanding scene for Bateman as Simon attempts to set thing right with Gordo, but Gordo refuses the attempt at an apology. Bateman is excellent because as the conversation starts he genuinely shows remorse in Simon as he's trying to just finish his mistakes from the past. When Gordo does not accept though Bateman is equally good as Simon falls upon his usual reaction to a problem which is cruelty. Bateman makes it as ugly as it should be as Simon once again only exacerbates the problem by so viciously trying to put down Gordo. Bateman creates the problem of Simon so well as he can basically never allow himself to be inconvenienced. Bateman does not hold back showing just how terrible this is. When Simon tries to defend his behavior, and almost blame Gordo for his own problems, Bateman is so good because he does not simplify this mentality. Again Bateman finds a guilt in there, but he covers it up through Simon's usual self confidence that he can never completely admit fault. Bateman never makes Simon a hero or a villain, but rather a man with some severe faults. This works its way into the final act of the film when Gordo gives Simon one final gift that suggests Gordo may have done something heinous for his revenge against Simon. As Simon watches the footage of the act, Bateman is outstanding in revealing the sheer devastation in Simon as he has to bear witness to it. What's so remarkable about this is that Bateman is even heartbreaking in revealing what this has done to the man, despite what we already know about Simon and what he has done. This is a tremendous performance by Bateman, as he not only makes you forget his comedic work as you're watching him here, he also in such a pivotal fashion humanizes the entire progression of the story through his powerful depiction of a man destroyed by his personal flaws.

Alternate Best Actor 2015

And the Nominees Were Not:

Tom Hardy in Legend

Jason Segel in The End of the Tour

Johnny Depp in Black Mass

Michael B. Jordan in Creed

Ben Mendelsohn in Mississippi Grind

Predict those five or these five:

Michael Fassbender in Macbeth

Jason Bateman in The Gift

Jacob Tremblay in Room

Ian McKellen in Mr. Holmes

Ben Foster in The Program 

Or both.