Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2008: Results

5. Richard Jenkins in Step Brothers - Jenkins offers a great bit of catharsis and entertainment through his hilarious turn that embodies every bit of exasperation possible in his observations of the titular's pair's nonsense.

Best Scene: His dream.

4. Mathieu Amalric in A Christmas Tale - Amalric gives a terrific turn in creating the complexity of his character's unique dynamics within his family that form through his own distinct way of interacting with the world.

Best Scene: The one time he loved his mother. 

3. Tom Noonan in Synecdoche, New York - Noonan as per usual gives a fascinating idiosyncratic turn that both acts as a proper representation of emotion, but also the representation of the act of the observation of such emotions.

Best Scene: His own choice.

2. Jason Butler Harner in Changeling - Although he isn't given a great deal of screentime Harner leaves an undeniable impression through his both chilling and honestly heartbreaking portrayal of a stunted and bent serial killer.

Best Scene: The execution.

1. Lee Byung-hun in The Good the Bad The Weird - Good Predictions Bryan L., Calvin, and RatedRStar. Lee delivers a great villainous turn here that successfully matches and amplifies the film's heightened tone while also delivering a palatable menace, along with even some real nuance in his exploration of what really makes his villain tick.

Best Scene: The duel.

Updated Overall

Next Year: 1957 Lead

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2008: Richard Jenkins in Step Brothers

Richard Jenkins did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying Robert Doback in Step Brothers.

A critic once believed that one could not examine a symbiotic relationship more eloquently or more intricately than Ingmar Bergman's Persona, that critic obviously never saw Step Brothers the worthy successor that defies all expectations in its penetrating exploration of the psyche of man.

And by that I mean Step Brothers is about two idiot man children (Will Ferrell, and John C. Reilly) who come to live together as such a titular pair when their respective single parents are married while both still live at home with them. Reilly's father is Richard Jenkins's Robert Doback who often seemed to be my own personal representation during this film. The film itself following this pattern of being kind of funny then really annoying then kind of funny then really annoying and continuing in that savage circle throughout. One aspect that differs from that pattern is Richard Jenkins, who is continually on some sort of point throughout the film. Where his counterpart, Ferrell's mother in the film, played by Mary Steenburgen still mothers her overgrown son, there is less of a cordiality within the character of Robert which Jenkins beautifully realizes. His performance is essentially this slowly erupting nearly apocalyptic volcano of passive aggression that becomes just full grown aggression at his two "sons". Jenkins in a way becomes this trick artist always hitting his marks even when the scene does not. He is consistently hilarious in creating such a raw, and to the point exasperation in each and every one of his reactions. An exasperation that only grows in every moment and settles itself in this intensity of this certain loathing that is particularly great in their Christmas dinner where Jenkins reveals a man retching in the sheer degree of his intolerance. This almost an antidote at times because of Jenkins representing a proper reaction to when the antics are not working at any level, and brings some comic gold by how little "playing up" Jenkins does.

The most consummate professional Jenkins's real intensity he brings is what makes it so funny, as he makes it seem as though Mr. Doback's spirit honestly is seeming to break to his very core. This naturally leads to events that leads the sons to be kicked out of the house, and finally fulfill their roles as adults. Of course that all gets twisted for the climax where at the Catalina wine mixer they must cover for a cover band, but not without a few words of wisdom from old Mr. Doback. This is where he has a change of heart to reveal his own juvenile dream to be a T-Rex. Honestly I can't praise Jenkins enough for the amount of conviction he brings in this most unorthodox speech. He even makes it work in context with the rest of the character, but showing it as almost this mad recall of a past lost dream. In turn it is hilarious as Jenkins acts out his dream a bit by again how seriously he plays it. Jenkins wants you to believe in Mr. Doback's dream, and you'll believe a man can't believe he could be a T-rex. Jenkins inflicts proper hilarity to that moment, and soon afterwards through the sheer eagerness of his delivery as he encourages his son to play his heart out with "Rock the fuck out of those drums Dale". Jenkins steals this film with ease, which some might balk at in terms of an accomplishment, but Jenkins doesn't only steal the film he just sprinkles a little something worthwhile into every one of his scenes.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2008

And the Nominees Were Not:

Jason Butler Harner in Changeling

Mathieu Amalric in A Christmas Tale

Tom Noonan in Synecdoche, New York

Lee Byung-hun in  The Good The Bad The Weird

Richard Jenkins in Step Brothers

Best Supporting Actor 2017: Results

5. Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water - Jenkins gives a wonderful performance very much as the type of truly "supporting" supporting performance by offering just bit of extra humor, warmth and emotion to the film.

Best Scene: Repeating the signs. 

4. Christopher Plummer in All the Money in the World - Plummer's post-last minute work here stands on its own, past the unorthodox nature of his casting, through his captivating portrayal of the world's richest man who he brings to life as indeed a commanding miser, but with a sense of humanity even within his most despicable behavior.

Best Scene: Fletcher confronting Getty.

3. Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project -Dafoe delivers one of his best performances through his earnest and always genuine portrayal of decent man trying to keep his optimism through much adversity. It's quietly poignant portrayal of an honest warmth within a rather harsh environment.

Best Scene: Dealing with a pedophile. 

2. Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Harrelson grants his character here a notable charisma and brings out the best in his film's humor. He goes further though in giving a rather heartbreaking portrayal of a man facing his own mortality.

Best Scene: Interrogation room. 

1. Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri - Good Predictions Mitchell, Giuseppe, Tahmeed, Luke, Jackiboyz, Maciej, RatedRStar, Omar, Robert, GM, Michael McCarthy, Anonymous, Matthew C. Well for me Rockwell tops this fantastic year for supporting actor nominees. Rockwell as expected brings such an energy through his performance, and where Harrelson excels in the verbal humor though Rockwell does that too, Rockwell is dynamite with the physical humor around his character's buffoonery. Rockwell's work is most remarkable though in successfully delivering his character's arc from a terrible man to a broken man finally starting to see his mistakes.

Best Scene: Dixon brings news to Mildred. 

Best Supporting Actor 2017: Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water

Richard Jenkins received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Giles in The Shape of Water.

The Shape of Water follows the story of a mute janitor, Elisa (Sally Hawkins), for a government facility finding love in the aquatic creature imprisoned there.

The Shape of Water is not a very subtle film. It focuses on the grandiose broad strokes in its overarching romance, including even a dance musical number, but also in terms of its social  commentary angle. The oppressed are the good guys whether they be the mute woman, the African American woman, the secret communist, the sea creature, and of course the gay man. Meanwhile the straight laced "average man" of the fifties is an evil psychopath. That's character's name is Strickland that pretty much sums up the film's approach in this regard. Now most films with such an overt approach I might take some umbrage with, however it works in this film because of the overarching stylistic realization of the film by director Guillermo del Toro. The film in every facet is that of a heightened reality to begin with enabling for such a broad approach. In a way it takes an old school musical Astaire/Rogers musical approach to telling the story of the creature from the black lagoon...in love. This includes in the character of Giles played by Richard Jenkins, originally intended for Ian McKellen which says something about the nature of the role. It isn't so much the gay best friend of a romantic comedy, though is that as well, but also the best friend characater in those musicals of old who probably would've played by Edward Everett Horton.

Richard Jenkins's role is therefore set within in a certain set of requirements of the tropes, although perhaps this is a bit more of challenge to begin with for Jenkins as this role is not his typical onscreen presence as Jenkins is more often cast as fathers or minor authority figures. Jenkins attunes himself nicely within the part adding sort of these instances minor flamboyancy in his physical mannerisms and delivery. Jenkins carefully doesn't over do this making it just natural facet of the character while relating the mostly unsaid background of the character rather effectively. Jenkins lets you know who Giles is, but doesn't bring any unneeded excess to the role. Well after that though he is set to portray the gay best friend, or old school musical friend, as required. This has a few different facets to it. The first being charm. Well Jenkins, when ever given the opportunity, is a very charming actor, and this comes naturally here. Jenkins is simply an actor with a certain on screen charisma to begin with so he's a particularly well equipped for that requirement. The second requirement is chemistry with his co-star. Jenkins and Hawkins have this in spades. Jenkins provides such a natural warmth in every interaction and the two are delightful together. The third is of course the delivery of comedic one liners, and plenty of them. Well Jenkins handles this with with aplomb, and thankfully doesn't over accentuate these lines rather finding humor in them properly though also just as a natural part of what Giles would say.

Of course there is a bit more required with whole social subversion aspects of the film, and the plot of rescuing the fishman from his evil captors. This tests the trope slightly, or at least demands a bit more from Jenkins who is more than up to the task. Jenkins effortlessly delivers a bit of pathos, even within those one liners, as there is an overarching somberness in his slight hangdog expressions, and sardonic deliveries. Jenkins delivers the sense of Giles own loneliness even while he entertains Elisa and the audience. Jenkins is able to effectively shift to the more dramatic moments particularly when Elisa asks him to help her. Jenkins is terrific in the scene as he brings such a strong sense of empathy in his own re-delivery of every one of her signed lines, and expresses Giles recognition of her words in very moving fashion. The one major scene though that relates to Giles's own plight is when he attempts to connect with a local diner owner. I will say this scene is perhaps even a bit over the top even for this film where the diner owner reveals his hatred for African Americans and homosexual in a matter of about six seconds. Having said though nothing can be faulted towards Jenkins's performance where he successfully embodies that hope for an end to his loneliness as he so joyfully speaks to the man, but then is rather affecting in reveals his distraught state when so intensely rebuffed. After that scene though he is set back into his supporting role as he helps Elisa try to rescue then release the fishman. Jenkins though still remains an integral part of every scene he's in always still bringing that charm and palatable warmth in every moment. Jenkins is there essentially to amplify every emotional moment, and he does this through his quiet yet impassioned work. I will say I particularly love his opening and ending narration where Jenkins brings such a gentle yet powerful poignancy to his delivery. The delivery fitting to a fairy tale in the elders voice speaking it, yet Jenkins delivers it also as the man who has lived the experience with someone he loved. In the end is this the most original character? No, nor is intended to be. Richard Jenkins works within a specific type of role here, but grants Giles his own distinct life through his wonderful performance.

Best Supporting Actor 2017

And the Nominees Are:

Woody Harrelson in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Willem Dafoe in The Florida Project

Richard Jenkins in The Shape of Water

Christopher Plummer in All The Money In The World

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2012: Bradley Whitford and Richard Jenkins in The Cabin in the Woods

Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford did not receive Oscar nominations for portraying Gary Sitterson and Steve Hadley respectively in The Cabin in the Woods.

The Cabin in the Woods is an entertaining enough slasher movie satire, though I did rather hate its high school nihilist ending.

The title suggests a standard trope in a horror film as a group of stereotyped teenagers or young adults go into a spooky cabin in the woods for the weekend. That set up though is pre-subverted from just about the outset as the dark credits fitting for a horror film are stopped in favor of two white collar workers at seemingly a government facility talking about their domestic problems. The workers being Sitterson and Hadley played by Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford who perhaps seem a bit out of place to open a slasher film or to even be in one. Richard Jenkins being the always reliable character actor often cast as some sort of official, and Bradley Whitford being perhaps the replacement for William Atherton as often the guy for obnoxious entitlement. The two represent the alternative factor that purposefully sets the film apart as the two men are there to essentially construct the typical horror movie unbeknownst to the five setting off towards the cabin. They are not there merely to set up the story though as the film focuses on their operation of the cabin horrors as much as it does on the denizens of the cabin.

Whitford and Jenkins don't reinvent themselves here the fun actually is in the fact that they play their parts that would be typical to a film that just takes place in some random office building. Both meet their roles so well with Jenkins being sort of the slightly more exasperated sort emphasizing just sort of getting the job done though still with the precision of a consummate professional. Jenkins though is good in just playing it as though setting up the murders is just more or less an average day for Sitterson. Whitford nicely does not duplicate Jenkins though they both very much are the office workers, but Whitford goes for a slightly different angle. In the back and forth with Jenkins particularly early on when they are not even talking about the mission they are nicely on the same wave length of two long time workers who are just shooting the breeze offering equal parts ridicule and support to one another. Their work history is a known factor in this. Now Whitford's performance though differs from Jenkins in that in the work Whitford portrays a more overt investment for Hadley towards the the mission not terms of it being a success, but rather in terms of the fun that can be had from it.

Now the humor of the satire most often comes from these two playing their parts in this way with Jenkins's reaction of often complete disinterest at the various events, while Whitford is often very funny his rather skewed interests particularly in his sorrowful face at seeing once again that the cabin will not be attacked by mermen. Of course even that Whitford does not portray as a major heartbreak just sort of the disappointment like if his boss had cancelled free pretzel day. The only time they break this darkly humorous state of pseudo-contentment is when something goes wrong that requires an immediate fix such as when they have to prevent the survivors from escaping through tunnel. Jenkins is particularly effective in these moments though as he portrays Sitterson wake up and get into gear as the absolute best professional he can be if the situation calls for it. Whitford though is equally good though showing the general, less helpful, frustrations of guy whose jobs has become a lot harder. The two of them consistently enliven the film with their presence of offering such a different type of performer in the slasher film, that I found to be easily the most enjoyable part of the film. Any moment they try not to waste. The highlight for me is probably in Whitford's performance late in the film, as all hell is breaking through almost literally, when finally a merman appears though not quite at the right time for Hadley. Whitford's reaction though is perfection as he captures awe at perhaps the fortune of finally seeing it then the sheer disbelief of having the misfortune of being in its line of sight. The two of them terrific as the "villains" because they don't play them as villains, even with their blase attitude towards death. They're just guys doing a job, in fact Hadley briefly shows just a bit of sympathy though Whitford plays this as a very distant sort of admiration rather than true sympathy. That lack of exact villainy is partially because they are enjoyable to watch but they also find the right tone. That tone which not only makes their characters work but is also pivotal in creating the right type of satirical bent for the film.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2012

And the Nominees Were Not:

Bradley Whitford in The Cabin in the Woods

Richard Jenkins in The Cabin in the Woods 

Thomas Bo Larsen in The Hunt

Cillian Murphy in Broken

Ronald Cheng in Vulgaria

Nawazuddin Siddiqui in Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2

For Prediction Purposes:

Whitford in The Cabin in the Woods

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Results

10. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation - Elba gives a charismatic performance as a godlike military commander, even if his character gets progressively less interesting as the film proceeds.

Best Scene: The Commandant prepares the men to attack. 

9. Stanley Tucci in Spotlight - Tucci, much like the majority of the cast of spotlight, gives a realistic portrayal of a man in the film's story, and only stands when it aids this story.

Best Scene: "You don't know the half of it"

8. Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Driver creates a most unusual yet still very effective and complex villain

Best Scene: Kylo and Han.

7. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn - Cohen gives an extremely charming performance that is essential the film's success, as he flawlessly avoids the various potential pitfalls of his technically simplistic character.

Best Scene: Tony and Ellis the night after the dinner with Tony's family. 

6. Michael Sheen in Far From the Madding Crowd - Sheen gives a very moving performance in his portrayal of a man whose emotions reveal themselves, for better or worse, after being shown a hint of love.

Best Scene: Boldwood joins Bathsheba in song. 

5. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario - Del Toro is appropriately chilling in his depiction of a cold killer, yet is particularly compelling in revealing the man behind the actions.

Best Scene: A family dinner.

4. Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina - Isaac is wildly entertaining yet also appropriately enigmatic as his odd tech genius who he plays as though he's a real BRO at heart.

Best Scene: "Have you tried dancing with her?"

3. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight - Goggins gives quite the impressive performance, as he's hilarious, incisive, and somehow makes a friendship between a racist Sheriff and a black bounty hunter believable.

Best Scene: Reading the Lincoln Letter. 

2. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk - Jenkins is completely unrecognizable in his funny yet heartbreaking portrayal of a real old timer of the old west.

Best Scene: The flea circus. 

1. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road - Good prediction Psifonian. This year is simply amazing, and having to choose between them is absurdly difficult. I could go so many different ways for my winner, since I love all these performances. I could go with any performance in my top 12 and they'd be deserving. My top two came down to the two performances that I've found myself quoting the most incidentally. I could easily switch at any time. Hoult is outstanding in his compelling and entertaining portrayal of zealotry, then is quite heartbreaking in his depiction of a loss of this blindness.  

Best Scene: A promised trip to Valhalla. 

Overall Rank:

1. Tom Hardy in The Revenant
2. Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Sylvester Stallone in Creed
4. Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk
5. Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight
6. Mark Rylance in Bridge of Spies
7. Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight
8. Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina
9. Benicio Del Toro in Sicario
10. Michael Sheen in Far From The Madding Crowd
11. Emory Cohen in Brooklyn
12. Kurt Russell in The Hateful Eight 
13. Bruce Dern in The Hateful Eight 
14. Michael Angarano in The Stanford Prison Experiment
15. Matthew Fox in Bone Tomahawk
16. Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
17. Harrison Ford in Star Wars: The Force Awakens 
18. Sam Elliot in Grandma
19. Stanley Tucci in Spotlight
20. Josh Brolin in Sicario
21. Matthias Schoenaerts in Far From The Madding Crowd
22. Liev Schreiber in Spotlight
23. Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation
24. Michael Keaton in Spotlight
25. Tim Roth in The Hateful Eight
26. Joel Edgerton in The Gift
27. Jeff Daniels in Steve Jobs
28. Roland Møller in Land of Mine
    
29. Ethan Hawke in 10,000 Saints
    
30. Jan Bijvoet in Embrace of the Serpent
    
31. Michael Shannon in 99 Homes 
32. Toby Jones in Tale of Tales
    
33. Tom Noonan in Anomalisa 
34. Jason Statham in Spy
35. Will Poulter in The Revenant 
36. Brian d'Arcy James in Spotlight 
    
37. Richard Kind in Inside Out
38. Louis C.K. in Trumbo
39. Domhnall Gleeson in The Revenant
40. Michael Madsen in The Hateful Eight 
41. Rory Cochrane in Black Mass 
    
42. James Parks in The Hateful Eight 
43. Brendan Gleeson in In The Heart of the Sea
44. Billy Crudup in The Stanford Prison Experiment
45. Peter Sarsgaard in Black Mass
46. Sean Harris in Macbeth 
47. Demian Bichir in The Hateful Eight 
48. Louis Hofmann in Land of Mine
    
49. W. Earl Brown in Black Mass
50. Hugo Weaving in The Dressmaker
    
51. David Morse in Concussion
52. Liev Schreiber in Pawn Sacrifice 
53. Paul Giamatti in Straight Outta Compton
    
54. Tye Sheridan in The Stanford Prison Experiment
55. Hugh Keays-Byrne in Mad Max: Fury Road
56. John Cusack in Chi-Raq
    
57. Chiwetel Ejiofor in The Martian 
58. Dave Bautista in Spectre
59. Jeremy Renner in Avengers: Age of Ultron
60. Seth Rogen in Steve Jobs 
61. Peter Sarsgaard in Pawn Sacrifice
62. Michael Douglas in Ant-Man
63. David Harbour in Black Mass
64. Forrest Goodluck in The Revenant
65. Oscar Isaac in Star Wars: The Force Awakens  
66. Billy Crudup in Spotlight
67. Domhnall Gleeson in Brooklyn
68. Sean Bean in The Martian
69. Paul Dano in Youth
70. Luigi Sciamanna in Embrace of the Serpent
    
71. Mark Strong in Kingsman: The Secret Service 
72. Jeff Daniels in The Martian
73. Nathan Jones in Mad Max: Fury Road
74. Richard Jenkins in Spotlight
75. Tom Hardy in London Road 
76. Jack Reynor in Macbeth
77. Jim Beaver in Crimson Peak
78. Jim Broadbent in Brooklyn
79. John Goodman in Trumbo
80. Josh Helman in Mad Max: Fury Road 
81. Lewis Black in Inside Out 
82. Brendan Gleeson in Suffragette 
    
83. Peter Mullan in Sunset Song
    
84. Michael Stuhlbarg in Trumbo
85. Bill Camp in Love & Mercy
86. Jon Gries in Faults
87. Arthur Redcloud in The Revenant
88. Lourenço Mutarelli in The Second Mother
    
89. Mikhail Gorevoy in Bridge of Spies
90. Tom McCamus in Room
91. Mark Rylance in The Gunman
92. Corey Stoll in Black Mass 
93. Samuel L. Jackson in Chi-Raq
    
94. Domhnall Gleeson in Star Wars: The Force Awakens
95. Neal Huff in Spotlight  
    
96. Chris Ellis in Faults
97. Jurgen Prochnow in Remember
    
98. Kit Harington in Testament of Youth
99. Vincent Cassel in Tale of Tales
100. Paddy Considine in Macbeth
101. Ben Whishaw in Spectre
102. Bruno Ganz in Remember
     
103. Jude Law in Spy
104. Simon Pegg in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
105. Kurt Russell in Furious 7
106. Harvey Keitel in Youth 
107. Martin Landau in Remember
     
108. Cory Michael Smith in Carol
109. Sylvester Groth in The Man From Uncle
110. Chris O'Dowd in The Program
111. Albert Brooks in Concussion
112. Brionne Davis in Embrace of the Serpent
     
113. James Spader in Avengers: Age of Ultron
114. John Slattery in Spotlight
     
115. Ben Whishaw in The Lobster 
116. Franz Rogowski in Victoria
     
117. Michael Cyril Creighton in Spotlight 
118. Milo Parker in Mr. Holmes 
119. Paddy Considine in Child 44
120. David Arquette in Bone Tomahawk
121. Colin Morgan in Testament of Youth 
122. Colin Quinn in Trainwreck
123. Benedict Wong in The Martian 
124. Alan Rickman in A Little Chaos
     
125. Kurt Egyiawan in Beasts of No Nation 
126. Jeffrey Donovan in Sicario 
127. Josh Brolin Everest
128. Christian Berkel in Trumbo
129. Tom Holland in In The Heart of the Sea 
130. Forest Whitaker in Southpaw
131. Angus Sampson in Mad Max: Fury Road
132. Ralph Fiennes in Spectre
133. Kobina Amissa-Sam in Beasts of No Nation
134. Ryan Gosling in the Big Short
135. Ron Livingston in James White
     
136. Stacy Keach in Truth 
137. Christopher Plummer in Danny Collins
     
138. Bradley Cooper in Joy 
     
139. Jesse Plemons in Black Mass
140. John Hawkes in Everest
141. Bobby Cannavale in Danny Collins
     
142. Taron Egerton in Testament of Youth
143. Sebastian Koch in Bridge of Spies 
144. Paul Giamatti in Love & Mercy
145. Brad Pitt in The Big Short 
146. James Badge Dale in The Walk 
147. Ben Mendelsohn in Slow West
148. Corey Stoll in Ant-Man
149. Stephen Root in Trumbo
150. Wesley Snipes in Chi-Raq
     
151. John C. Reilly in The Lobster
152. Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Age of Ultron
153. Alec Baldwin in Concussion
154. Jamey Sheridan in Spotlight
155. Christian Bale in The Big Short
156. Taron Egerton in Legend 
157. Jason Statham in Furious 7
158. Sid Haig in Bone Tomahawk 
159. Jeremy Strong in The Big Short 
160. Scott Shepherd in Bridge of Spies
161. Kyle Chandler in Carol 
162. Steve Carell in The Big Short
163. Derek Jacobi in Cinderella 
     
164. Jake Weary in It Follows
165. Jake Gyllenhaal in Everest
166. Kevin Bacon in Black Mass
     
167. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje in Trumbo
168. Hugh Grant in The Man From Uncle 
169. Ving Rhames in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
170. Jeremy Renner in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
171. Bill Hader in Inside Out 
172. Bobby Cannavale in Spy 
173. Harry Lennix in Chi-Raq
     
174. Dwayne Johnson in Furious 7
175. Jesse Plemons in The Program
176. Javier Bardem in The Gunman
177. Ed Harris in Run All Night 
178. Dave Chappelle in Chi-Raq
     
179. Chris Evans in Avengers: Age of Ultron
180. Sean Bridgers in Room 
181. Kid Cudi in James White 
182. Jim Broadbent in The Woman in the Van
     
183. Michael Stuhlbarg in Steve Jobs 
184. Norman Lloyd in Trainwreck 
     
185. Robert Redford in Truth
186. Nonso Anozie in Cinderella
187. Bobby Cannavale in Ant-Man
188. Mark Ruffalo in Avengers: Age of Ultron
189. Graham McTavish in Creed 
190. Ben Whishaw in In the Heart of the Sea
191. Rory McCann in Slow West
192. David Thewlis in Legend
193. David Thewlis in Macbeth
194. Ben Whishaw in The Danish Girl
195. Keir Gilchrist in It Follows 
196. John C. Reilly in Tale of Tales
     
197. Channing Tatum in The Hateful Eight
198. Jon Bernthal in Sicario
199. John Magaro in The Big Short
200. Finn Wittrock in The Big Short
201. Chris Hemsworth in Avengers: Age of Ultron 
     
202. Hiroyuki Sanada in Mr. Holmes
203. Ezra Miller in The Stanford Prison Experiment
204. Matthias Schoenaerts in The Danish Girl
205. Daniel Bruhl in Woman in Gold
     
206. William H. Macy in Room 
207. Michael Stuhlbarg in Pawn Sacrifice
208. Edgar Ramirez in Joy
209. Dennis Quaid in Truth
210. Michael Caine in Kingsman: The Secret Service 
211. Charlie Hunnam in Crimson Peak 
     
212. Benedict Cumberbatch in Black Mass 
213. Donald Glover in The Martian 
214. Sean Bean in Jupiter Ascending
215. Sean Harris in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
216. Ty Simpkins Jurassic World 
217. Michael Pena in Ant-Man
218. Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Avengers: Age of Ultron
219. Ben Kingsley in The Walk
220. Adam Scott in Black Mass
221. Ben Whishaw in Suffragette
222. Alexander Skarsgard in The Diary of a Teenage Girl
223. Andy Serkis in Star Wars: The Force Awakens 
224. Common in Run All Night
225. Robert De Niro in Joy
226. Mark Ruffalo in Spotlight 
227. Samuel L. Jackson in Kingsman: The Secret Service 
228. Michael Pena in The Martian 
229. John Cena in Trainwreck
230. Tony Bellew in Creed
231. John Magaro in Carol
232. Nick Robinson in Jurassic World
233. Lebron James in Trainwreck 
234. Curtis Jackson in Southpaw
235. Anthony Bourdain in The Big Short
236. Hugh Jackman in Chappie 
237. Barry Otto in The Dressmaker
     
238. Vincent D'Onofrio in Jurassic World
239. Liam Hemsworth in the Dressmaker
     
240. Richard Thaler in The Big Short 
241. Miguel Gomez in Southpaw
242. Austin Stowell in Bridge of Spies
243. David Dastmalchian in Ant-Man 
244. Christoph Waltz in Spectre
245. David James Elliot in Trumbo
246. Dean O'Gorman in Trumbo 
247. Adam DeVine in The Intern
248. Nat Wolff in The Intern
249. Anders Holm in The Intern
250. Caleb Landry Jones in Heaven Knows What
     
251. Andrew Rannells in The Intern
252. B.D. Wong in Jurassic World
253. Douglas Booth in Jupiter Ascending
254. Nat Wolff in Grandma 
255. Emile Hirsch in 10,000 Saints
     
256. Tom Sturridge in Far From the Madding Crowd 
257. Jose Pablo Cantillo in Chappie
258. Ninja in Chappie 
259. Joel Kinnaman in Child 44
260. Topher Grace in Truth
261. Guillaume Canet in The Program
262. Quentin Tarantino in The Hateful Eight
263. Eddie Redmayne in Jupiter Ascending

Next Year: 2015 Lead (Please name and rank the top three you'd like to see reviewed)

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015: Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk

Richard Jenkins did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying back up deputy Chicory in Bone Tomahawk.

Bone Tomahawk is an effective western horror about four men who go out to rescue captives from a group of cave dwelling cannibals.

Now I must admit the first time I watched Bone Tomahawk, despite being basically told to watch out for Jenkins's performance, for quite awhile I was waiting for Jenkins to show up. Of course his character of Chicory appears early on, but Jenkins wholly disappears into his role. Jenkins is a fine character actor, and often matches the needs of the various roles he's tasked with no matter how small they may be. This one though, he goes above and beyond in his creation of Chicory, as he seems to call upon his inner his Walter Brennan or perhaps Arthur Hunnicutt in his portrayal of an old timer in the old west. Jenkins takes upon a haggard voice and all of his physical movement are slightly slow suggesting a certain effort that it takes just for him to move at the speed he does. Jenkins realizes many rough years that Chicory has had to endure in just the way he speaks and moves. The most remarkable part of all this is how natural Jenkins makes it all seem, since he just seems to be some other character actor that is older, or at least has not aged as well, as Jenkins. There's no visual effort or even the idea of seeing a performance. Jenkins simply is Chicory here, and even before he does any thing the mere set up Jenkins is already rather outstanding.

Jenkins though does not stop there as he not only becomes the Walter Brennan for the film, but he also must fulfill the potential needs of a Walter Brennan role for this western. Well that being he's just a bit of an old coot, but in the best sort of way. Jenkins is extremely endearing in the role as he portrays such enthusiasm in Chicory as he attempts to go about supporting the local Sheriff Franklin Hunt (Kurt Russell). Jenkins brings such a genuine pride in Chicory whenever he states his position as the town's backup deputy, who frequently tries to offer his opinion the Sheriff, which he always refers to as "the official opinion of the back up deputy". The eagerness that Jenkins brings to the role makes Chicory so likable, since he never seems overbearing either. Whenever Chicory steps up, including attempting to help the Sheriff stop a potentially dangerous drifter, Jenkins reveals an old guy trying his absolute best to help. It's hard not to love the old man in Jenkins's hands since everything about the man just feels completely honest, and there's not a forced element to his depiction, this quite an accomplishment in itself considering how different Jenkins is in this role to begin with. It's splendid work from the start, and it only gets stronger as the film proceeds.

When the Sheriff, the husband of one of the captives Arthur O'Dwyer (Patrick Wilson), a self-proclaimed Indian killer John Brooder (Matthew Fox) set off an a rescue, Chicory demands to come along as well. Just before he goes though there is just a wonderful small moment for Jenkins as he visits his wife's grave, and Jenkins so tenderly reveals the great loss to Chicory in just a few moments before he departs. On the journey itself Jenkins is terrific in realizing so well the eternal optimism of Chicory as they are basically descending into hell. Jenkins importantly keeps a light humorous touch, even in some rather dark sequences, by keeping Chicory's inherent kindness a constant. He's great in the way he finds a certain chemistry with each of the men. He brings just the utmost respect in his interactions with The Sheriff, suggesting Chicory's steadfast devotion to his duty. With O'Dwyer though Jenkins brings the right consistent kindness as he always reflects Chicory clear concern for O'Dwyer's personal plight. The best though may come in his relationship with the philosophically opposed pessimist Brooder (whose name upon reflection may be a bit on the nose).

Anyways Fox and Jenkins are great together though in portraying the opposite ends of the spectrum. As Brooder mocks everyone on the mission, Jenkins is good in finding this believable resilience as Chicory never lashes out against Brooder. This is all except when Brooder supersedes the Sheriff's authority, and Jenkins is great by bringing some much passion in Chicory very specific disagreement with Brooder because he's disrespecting the law. It's splendid because it's not really anger that Jenkins expresses but rather almost a concern as he wants to makes sure he is fulfilling his duty as backup deputy. Jenkins never loses that bright outlook of Chicory's , and  makes it even convincing that Chicory is even able to win over Brooder by the end. Jenkins makes this whole defining quality about Chicory work so well by being a consistent bit of sunshine in a film that only becomes darker as it goes along. Jenkins plays around with it just enough, and manages to derive some well earned humorous moments simply from Chicory's personal style, yet never makes the character a joke. In fact Jenkins manages to be quite powerful by offering such an empathetic presence with Chicory, as manages to find such poignancy with every loss in the film.

Jenkins's best scenes, which is saying something, come after part of the group is also captured by the cannibals, and basically put in cages, waiting their turns to be slaughtered. If there was a moment for Chicory to lose his hope this would be it, but he still does not fall into despair. Jenkins importantly does bring nuance to this still showing an underlying anxiety and sadness from the situation, but earns the optimism all the more by depicting the effort as he still looks for the silver lining. There leads to one especially amazing scene for Jenkins as Chicory talks about seeing a flea circus once, and stating his belief that the show was real despite being told otherwise. The conviction of this belief that Jenkins is so heartwarming, particularly when O'Dwyer's wife supports Chicory's belief, as Jenkins so genuinely presents Chicory's complete joy in finding some sort of encouragement for his mindset. My favorite moment of his performance, and I love em all, is when Chicory swears he'll avenge one his friend. Chicory obviously does not appears to be the most formidable man, but even in a scene of violence Jenkins manages to add a sweetness to it by portraying once against such undeniable earnestness as he fulfills his friend's final request of sorts. This is a brilliant performance by Jenkins in every regard. He not only crafts a wholly unique character, he manages to be both a marvelous comic relief and the soul of the film. It's downright beautiful work by Richard Jenkins and essential to the film as he becomes interminable ray of light within the darkness of the film's bleak world.

Alternate Best Supporting Actor 2015

And the Nominees Were Not:

Stanley Tucci in Spotlight

Liev Schreiber in Spotlight

Michael Keaton in Spotlight

Nicholas Hoult in Mad Max: Fury Road

Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation

Emory Cohen in Brooklyn

Benicio Del Toro in Sicario

Josh Brolin in Sicario

Walton Goggins in The Hateful Eight

Samuel L. Jackson in The Hateful Eight

Kurt Russell in The Hateful Eight

Oscar Isaac in Ex Machina

Richard Jenkins in Bone Tomahawk

Adam Driver in Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Michael Sheen in Far From The Madding Crowd

Matthias Schoenaerts in Far From The Madding Crowd

For Prediction purposes:

Tucci

Hoult

Elba

Cohen

Del Toro

and/or

Goggins

Isaac

Jenkins

Driver

Sheen

Best Actor 2008: Results

5. Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button- Pitt's performance is a dull lifeless effort that does nothing to bring to life the strange premise of his character.

4. Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon- Langella relies far too heavily on the overt Nixon mannerisms throughout his performance. As with Anthony Hopkins's work as the man he always closer to caricature than man, unlike Philip Baker Hall's portrayal of the man.

3. Sean Penn in Milk- Penn delivers a strong performance that acts both as the inspirational character desired by the film and this interesting examination of the nature of an idiosyncratic politician.

2. Richard Jenkins in The Visitor- It is not a big performance, or an amazing achievement, but Jenkins is most certainly very good in his portrait of a man who slowly finds some joy, and passion in his life.

1. Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler- Rourke is deeply moving in his portrait of Randy The Ram Robinson. Rourke shows so much to his character both the positive and the negative, never playing a single moment falsely, despite taking many risks with his performance.

Deserving Performances:
Brendan Gleeson in In Bruges

Best Actor 2008: Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Richard Jenkins received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Walter Vale in The Visitor.

The Visitor is a somewhat contrived, although not entirely ineffective film about a man who finds a purpose again in life by befriending illegal immigrants.

Richard Jenkins is quite good at being just an average man in this film as Walter Vale. He plays a widowed economic professor. He seems to simply be drifting through life without much of a purpose, except the rather simple day to day tasks involving his job, and the piano lessons he takes basically because his wife memory. Jenkins simply, but effectively portrays his characters rather overt, yet at the same time subtle depression. He is not visibly crying constantly nor has he stopped his life completely, but Jenkins clearly suggests the profound effect the death of Walter's wife has had on him. It is not so much a sadness, but a lack of joy that Jenkins conveys wonderfully.

Walter soon meets a group of illegal immigrants that is the main focus of the film. Jenkins is again good in his confused apprehension at first as he encounters them in his apartment in New York City that he rarely uses. Walter comes around to them, and in fact befriends the illegal immigrant couple, particularly the man Tarek, who starts to teach him to play the drums. Jenkins' transition of Walter's relationship is not a huge jump by anyways, but it honestly portrayed by Jenkins, because he still shows that some awkwardness in his relation with the immigrants does stay, and that it is a very gradual transition of greater comfort with his very different from him, new friends.

Jenkins also does not become instantly happy at all, but shows that his life has simply found something new, and has again given more of some joy, that the utter devoid he had before. A passion also grows even more fully actually when Terek is imprisoned due to his illegal status. Walter once again finds a passion within himself to help Terek the best he can, and Jenkins suggests it as not something new to Walter, but rather this part of himself being risen once more. This is particularly shown well in his angry speech scene at the prison, where Jenkins is effective because he shows that he really does care for what is being done to Terek, and how his relationship with him has moved quite deeply.

With the imprisonment of Terek he also meets and befriends as well Terek's mother Mouna. Again Jenkins is good in creating and honest natural relationship with her, but this time he seems to make an even deeper connection with her, so much that he reveals and reflects more about himself. Jenkins comes full circle very well in showing how Walter had been sleepwalking through life, but finally has grown enough to find a purpose as well as see how he had been previously. I think I have probably sounded rather positive throughout this whole review, no doubt coming at least partially from the rather lackluster performances I have just gone through. I will say I am positive this is a good performance, and Jenkins shows his ability as a leading man as he did more commonly as a supporting actor.

Best Actor 2008

And the Nominees Were:

Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon

Brad Pitt in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Sean Penn in Milk

Richard Jenkins in The Visitor

Mickey Rourke in The Wrestler