Oscars Predictions: Best Supporting Actor – Paul Raci and Glynn Turman Gain Significant Ground
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2021 OSCARS PREDICTIONS:
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
UPDATED: Dec. 27, 2020
AWARDS COMMENTARY:
There are many factors to consider for Oscar nominations, such as a late-breaking surge, a slow down, or a failure to read the temperature on the Academy’s tastes. Of all the acting races, this category has the best shot of being made of any of the five contenders ranked in the top 25, with no exaggeration. How will the campaigns navigate this long-winded season? Expect noise for Leslie Odom Jr. to remain (at least for the moment) while “The Trial of the Chicago 7” aims to get two of its players in the race. Daniel Kaluuya has the potential to shake it all up substantially as Fred Hampton. Let’s see how it all shakes out.
AND THE PREDICTED NOMINEES ARE:
Daniel Kaluuya
"Judas and the Black Messiah" (Warner Bros.)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination
ROLE: Fred Hampton
–
DIRECTOR: Shaka King
SYNOPSIS: The story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, and his fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O'Neal.
STARRING: Lakeith Stanfield, Daniel Kaluuya, Dominique Fishback, Jesse Plemons, Martin Sheen, Dominique Thorne, Algee Smith, Lil Rel Howery, Jermaine Fowler
Leslie Odom, Jr.
"One Night in Miami" (Amazon Studios)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Sam Cooke
–
DIRECTOR: Regina King
SYNOPSIS: A fictional account of one incredible night in 1964, where four icons of activism, sports and music – Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke – gathered, discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the ’60s.
STARRING: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom, Jr.
Sacha Baron Cohen
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination (2006's "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan" in adapted screenplay)
ROLE: Abbie Hoffman
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
Stanley Tucci
"Supernova" (Bleecker Street)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination
ROLE: Tusker
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have.
STARRING: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood, Peter MacQueen, Nina MarlinPaul Raci
"Sound of Metal" (Amazon Studios)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Joe
–
DIRECTOR: Darius Marder
SYNOPSIS: A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into freefall when he begins to lose his hearing.
STARRING: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke, Paul Raci, Mathieu Almaric, Lauren Ridloff
NEXT IN LINE:
Glynn Turman
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Toledo
–
DIRECTOR: George C. Wolfe
SYNOPSIS: Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues". Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play..
STARRING: Chadwick Boseman, Dusan Brown, Jonny Coyne, Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, Taylour Paige, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos, Glynn Turman
Chadwick Boseman
"Da 5 Bloods" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Stormin' Norman
–
DIRECTOR: Spike Lee
SYNOPSIS: Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.
STARRING: Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Jonathan Majors, Chadwick Boseman, Isiah Witlock, Jr,, Norm Lewis
Bill Murray
"On the Rocks" (A24/Apple TV Plus)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination
ROLE: Felix
–
DIRECTOR: Sofia Coppola
SYNOPSIS: A young mother reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York.
STARRING: Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, Marlon Wayans, Jessica Henwick, Jenny Slate
David Strathairn
"Nomadland" (Searchlight Pictures)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination
ROLE: Dave
–
DIRECTOR: Chloé Zhao
SYNOPSIS: After losing everything in the Great Recession, an old woman embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
STARRING: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May, Swankie, Bob Wells
Alan S. Kim
"Minari" (A24)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: David
–
DIRECTOR: Lee Isaac Chung
SYNOPSIS: A Korean family moves to Arkansas to start a farm in the 1980s.
STARRING: Steven Yeun, Yeri Han, Alan S. Kim, Yuh-jung Youn, Will Patton
TOP-TIER AWARDS CONTENDERS:
Frank Langella
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination
ROLE: Judge Julius Hoffman
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
Yahya Abdul Mateen II
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Bobby Seale
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
Mark Rylance
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination, 1 win (2015's "Bridge of Spies")
ROLE: William Kunstler
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
Eddie Redmayne
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: 2 nominations, 1 win (2014's "The Theory of Everything)
ROLE: Tom Hayden
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
Aldis Hodge
"One Night in Miami" (Amazon Studios)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Sam Cooke
–
DIRECTOR: Regina King
SYNOPSIS: A fictional account of one incredible night in 1964, where four icons of activism, sports and music – Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke – gathered, discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the ’60s.
STARRING: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom, Jr.
Charles Dance
"Mank" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Herman J. Mankiewicz
–
DIRECTOR: David Fincher
SYNOPSIS: 1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane for Orson Welles.
STARRING: Tom Burke, Lily Collins, Joseph Cross, Charles Dance, Monika Gossman, Ferdinand Kingsley, Jamie McShane, Tuppence Middleton, Toby Leonard Moore, Gary Oldman, Tom Pelphrey, Amanda Seyfried, Sam Troughton
Billy Crystal
"Standing Up, Falling Down" (Shout! Factor)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Marty
–
DIRECTOR: Matt Ratner
SYNOPSIS: The unlikely friendship that kindles between a struggling stand-up comedian from L.A., forced to move back home with his tail between his legs, and a tragically flawed, but charming and charismatic, alcoholic dermatologist.
STARRING: Ben Schwarz, Billy Crystal, Grace Gummer
Colman Domingo
"Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Cutler
–
DIRECTOR: George C. Wolfe
SYNOPSIS: Chicago, 1927. A recording session. Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues". Based on Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson's play..
STARRING: Chadwick Boseman, Dusan Brown, Jonny Coyne, Viola Davis, Colman Domingo, Taylour Paige, Michael Potts, Jeremy Shamos, Glynn Turman
Jonathan Majors
"Da 5 Bloods" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: David
–
DIRECTOR: Spike Lee
SYNOPSIS: Four African American vets battle the forces of man and nature when they return to Vietnam seeking the remains of their fallen squad leader and the gold fortune he helped them hide.
STARRING: Delroy Lindo, Clarke Peters, Jonathan Majors, Chadwick Boseman, Isiah Witlock, Jr,, Norm Lewis
Jeremy Strong
"The Trial of the Chicago 7" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Jerry Rubin
–
DIRECTOR: Aaron Sorkin
SYNOPSIS: The story of 7 people on trial stemming from various charges surrounding the uprising at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.
STARRING: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sacha Baron Cohen, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, John Carroll Lynch, Eddie Redmayne, Mark Rylance, Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong
ALSO IN CONTENTION:
Arliss Howard
"Mank" (Netflix)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Louis B. Hayward
–
DIRECTOR: David Fincher
SYNOPSIS: 1930s Hollywood is re-evaluated through the eyes of scathing social critic and alcoholic screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz as he races to finish the screenplay of Citizen Kane for Orson Welles.
STARRING: Tom Burke, Lily Collins, Joseph Cross, Charles Dance, Monika Gossman, Ferdinand Kingsley, Jamie McShane, Tuppence Middleton, Toby Leonard Moore, Gary Oldman, Tom Pelphrey, Amanda Seyfried, Sam Troughton
Jared Leto
"The Little Things" (HBO Max/Warner Bros.)
OSCAR HISTORY: 1 nomination, 1 win (2013's "Dallas Buyers Club")
ROLE: To be announced
–
DIRECTOR: John Lee Hancock
SYNOPSIS: Two cops track down a serial killer.
STARRING: Denzel Washington, Jared Leto, Rami Malek
Bo Burnham
"Promising Young Woman" (Focus Features)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Ryan
–
DIRECTOR: Emerald Fennell
SYNOPSIS: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who cross her path.
STARRING: Carey Mulligan, Bo Burnham, Laverne Cox, Molly Shannon, Clancy Brown, Jennifer Coolidge, Max Greenfield, Alison Brie, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Connie Britton, Chris Lowell, Adam Brody, Sam Richardson
Diego Luna
"Wander Darkly" (Lionsgate)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Matteo
–
DIRECTOR: Tara Miele
SYNOPSIS: New parents Adrienne and Matteo are forced to reckon with trauma amidst their troubled relationship. They must revisit the memories of their past and unravel haunting truths in order to face their uncertain future.
STARRING: Sienna Miller, Diego Luna, Beth Grant, Vanessa Bayer
Trevante Rhodes
"The United States vs. Billie Holiday" (Paramount Pictures)
OSCAR HISTORY: Never nominated
ROLE: Jimmy Fletcher
–
DIRECTOR: Lee Daniels
SYNOPSIS: Follows Holiday during her career as she is targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had a tumultuous affair.
STARRING: Andra Day, Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne, Garrett Hedlund, Rob Morgan, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Tyler James Williams
† = no release date scheduled / could be delayed / may not be eligible
†† = could be campaigned in lead or supporting categories / original or adapted screenplay categories
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars is Hollywood’s most prestigious artistic award in the film industry. The most awarded films in Oscar history are “Ben-Hur,” “Titanic” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” at 11 statuettes. The most nominated films in Academy history are “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land” at 14. “La La Land” is the only film of the three to have lost best picture. The biggest Oscar “losers,” meaning most nominated and walk away with zero awards are 1977’s “The Turning Point” and 1985’s “The Color Purple” at 11 each.
Academy Awards Predictions (All Categories)
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best International Feature [coming soon]
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Animated Short [coming soon]
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Documentary Short [coming soon]
2021 Oscar Predictions: Best Live-Action Short [coming soon]
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