2013 Awards Season: Oscar Highlight: Best Supporting Actress

February 21, 2013

With our annual Oscar Prediction contest underway, now is the best time to look at the nominees and try and figure out who the favorites are and which films should just feel honored to be nominated. This week we will look at the four acting categories, starting with Best Supporting Actress, which is again not a very competitive category this year. I'm not saying it is impossible for upset to happen here, but it is very, very unlikely.

(Note: All previous awards listed are only for acting and not other categories. However, they are for supporting and lead acting.)

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams for The Master
Tomatometer Score: 86% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: One Golden Globe
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: Three Oscars, Three Golden Globes, Five SAGs, and One Independent Spirit Award
Actress's Previous Major Wins: None
Notes: Perpetually a bridesmaid. Amy Adams has earned a huge number of major nominations since her breakout performance is Junebug, but she's walked away empty-handed each time. This does increase the odds that she will win, but it is unlikely she will win this year. The Master didn't live up to the buzz, even with 86% positive reviews, and that will hurt her chances on Oscar night.

Sally Field for Lincoln
Tomatometer Score: 89% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: One Golden Globe and Two SAGs
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: Two Oscars, Seven Golden Globes, and One SAGs
Actress's Previous Major Wins: Two Oscars and Two Golden Globes
Notes: On the other hand, Sally Field has been nominated less times than Amy Adams, but won more. (I'm not counting her TV work for Golden Globes or SAGs.) It has been a while since she won an Oscar, and sometimes that can help a person's chances; however, Lincoln has been underperforming, and I think that trend will continue.

Anne Hathaway for Les Miserables
Tomatometer Score: 70% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: One Golden Globe and Two SAGs
Movie's Previous Major Wins: One Golden Globe and One SAG
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: One Oscars, Two Golden Globes, Two SAGs, and One Independent Spirit Award
Actress's Previous Major Wins: None
Notes: Les Miserables earned the worst reviews on this list and I've seen it on a number of Worst Films of the Year lists. However, even most people who hated this film admitted Anne Hathaway's performance was marvelous and many of those who loved the film said she was the best part. She's the only one to win a major award for her performance this year, and the buzz surrounding her is deafening. She's the clear favorite.

Helen Hunt for The Sessions
Tomatometer Score: 94% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: One Golden Globe, One SAG, and One Independent Spirit Award
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: One Oscar, One Golden Globe, and One SAG
Actress's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar, One Golden Globe, and One SAG
Notes: While The Sessions earned incredible reviews, it is the smallest film on this list, and while that shouldn't matter, it does. After all, you can't vote for a film you haven't seen. Also, Helen Hunt has won in the past, so the voters are less likely to try and fix past mistakes this year.

Jacki Weaver for Silver Linings Playbook
Tomatometer Score: 92% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: One SAG
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actress's Previous Major Nominations: One Oscar and One Golden Globe
Actress's Previous Major Wins: None
Notes: Silver Linings Playbook was nominated for a lot of Oscars, including nominations in all four acting categories. It has a really good chance of winning at least one Oscar, but unfortunately for Jacki Weaver, it is not the favorite in this category. In fact, her nomination was a bit of a surprise.

Conclusion: Amy Adams will win an Oscar, I'm confident in that prediction, but not this year. It's Anne Hathaway's year to win. Les Miserables didn't live up to the hype, but Anne Hathaway's performance deserves the recognition it is getting.


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Filed under: Awards Season, Lincoln, The Sessions, Les Misérables, Silver Linings Playbook, The Master, Sally Field, Amy Adams, Anne Hathaway, Helen Hunt, Jacki Weaver