Best Supporting Actor is one of the major categories that I would consider a lock. Jared Leto‘s transformative role in Dallas Buyers Club is emotional, funny, flashy, and heartbreaking. It’s almost a tailor made Oscar performance. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s nearly swept all the precursor awards.
If there was a spoiler in this race it would be Michael Fassbender. His role as one of the ruthless slave owners in 12 Years a Slave is one of the best of the year. If 12 Years a Slave sweeps the night, he could be taken along for the ride.
The only other actor I could see possibly winning here is Barkhad Abdi. With Tom Hanks out of the way, he is the only acting nomination for Captain Phillips, if the Academy feels a need to award the film it could be here. He also has the benefit of having a good story to go along with his role. He worked as a limo driver in Minneapolis when he went into audition with a myriad of other actors. When he won the role it was his first acting role ever. The industry likes him, and that’s half the battle.
Check out our rankings below and all of our Oscar predictions here!
Will Win: Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
Could Win: Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Should Win: Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Should have been nominated: Daniel Brühl, “Rush”
Hey, I'm Karl, founder and film critic at Smash Cut. I started Smash Cut in 2014 to share my love of movies and give a perspective I haven't yet seen represented. I'm also an editor at The New York Times, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and a member of the Online Film Critics Society.
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