Oscar Picks: Best Supporting Actor and Actress

     There are some powerhouses in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Alan Arkin is nominated for “Argo,” which is one of my favorite movies of the year. Robert De Niro is nominated for “Silver Linings Playbook” as the neurotic father of a mentally ill son who needs quite a bit of guidance. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is up for the award for “The Master” and the calm of his character in the movie is a great contrast to Joaquin Phoenix’s crazy agitation. Tommy Lee Jones got a nod for his role in “Lincoln” and is perhaps my least favorite to win in this category. I feel he brought too much of his stern law enforcement type of acting into the role for a legislator. Christopher Waltz has my vote to win in this category for his portrayal of a bounty hunter in “Django Unchained.” He was able to bring humor, emotion, trustworthiness, and mystery to the screen.

     In the category of Best Actress in a Supporting Role there is a clear winner. Anne Hathaway will take home the award for “Les Misérables.” While her strong and emotional performance in that movie was short lived, there are not any actresses who delivered on that level. Amy Adams played a fierce and devout wife in “The Master.” Sally Field played a mostly dutiful and slightly hysterical character in “Lincoln,“ a memorable role that is definitely worthy of the nomination. Helen Hunt turned in a brave, mostly nude performance in “The Sessions.” Lastly, Jacki Weaver plays a mother and wife who is trying to hold the family together in “Silver Linings Playbook.”