The Award: Unlike some categories this year Supporting Actor is far easier to decipher than Baz Luhrman's newest commercial for Australia.
The Nominees
Josh Brolin, Milk
In one year, Brolin has rocketed to the top echelon of American actors. He plays the rock-jawed, rageful Dan White with compassion. At times it's easy to forget he's the bad guy. White is a complex character whose love-hate relationship with Sean Penn's Harve Milk is one of the more interesting aspects of the film.
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
With 2008 Downey, Jr. has almost instantly revived his acting career. The talented actor has been off the radar for a while battling drug and alcohol problems, but his talent seems to have pulled him through. His role as the blue-eyed Australian pretty-boy, Kirk Lazurus, playing an African-American soldier in Vietnam was elegantly constructed and masterfully pulled off. While his acting was without question amazing, it was almost an upset for him to even receive the nomination with his role coming in a summer action-comedy blockbuster, and it seems unlikely that he will have the momentum to pull off an even bigger surprise.
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Hoffman has emerged as a true acting heavy-weight over the past few years and continues to be recognized by his peers with another nomination here. While Hoffman's as Capote did beat out Ledger's turn as Ennis Del Mar for the 2005 Best Actor nod, it is unlikely he will have the momentum to pull off the upset this year. Hoffman portrays new-priest-in-town Father Flynn stoically in this play-turned-movie. Doubt relies heavily on characters rather than special effects so it was no surprise to see three nominations in the supporting categories.
Heath Ledger, The Dark Night
Ledger is the clear favorite to run away with this award and perhaps the only lock for any award heading into Oscar night. Ledger has three things going for him. His portrayal of the Joker was beyond spectacular. He is the lone major nomination from one of the highest-grossing movies of all time that got snubbed in the Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay categories. He is nominated posthumously. If there's one thing that can guarantee an Oscar, it's death. However, the bottom line is that Ledger elevated the role beyond what everyone thought they knew or imagined possible. He outshone the legendary Jack Nicholson while playing adding new dimensions to dark and creepy.
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Shannon's portrayal of John Givings rounds out this deserving quintet. While some would argue that he was outshone by leading stars Kate Winslet and Leo Di Caprio, Shannon's nod here marks the only major nomination for the once lauded movie. The weight of carrying the whole movie's awards hope will likely prove too much for Shannon, but he was nominated deservingly over the 11th hour dark horse candidate Dev Patel.
The Winner: Heath Ledger
No surprises from this category. While it would be a nice surprise to see Downey Jr. walk alway with the statue, the Academy will not miss the oppurtunity to recognize the late Ledger's life and work with this award.
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