The Best Supporting Actress race is wide open. Yes, most people see Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels’ The Butler) as the current front-runner and with the film recently crossing the $100 million mark at the box office it adds fuel to the fire. But how, HOW could the Academy possibly award Winfrey over Lupita Nyong’o‘s performance in 12 Years a Slave? They simply can’t, at least not without hanging their head in shame.
Nyong’o doesn’t have the same name recognition as Oprah, but if you were to compare the two performances it’s quite obvious, to me at least, who gives the better performance. In fact, I don’t know how Oprah could campaign against Nyong’o and hold her head high. Winfrey could walk around and accept whatever kudos and adulation fall upon her shoulders, but to actively campaign for an Oscar, claiming acting superiority would be rather naive.
Interestingly enough, beyond those two the race is wide open. I have to assume either Julia Roberts or Margo Martindale will score a nomination for August: Osage County, if not both, while June Squibb seems a likely contender for her work in Nebraska.
I’ve also added Kristen Wiig (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) to the running as she was conspicuously absent before today’s update and Melissa Leo, who just won an Emmy, may serve as a surprise nominee for her work in Prisoners.
There are many more beyond that and I’ll personally be pulling for Carey Mulligan for her work in Inside Llewyn Davis and we’ve yet to see what the ladies in American Hustle, The Counselor and Her have to offer not to mention several others.
You can check out my current top five directly below and click here to see my full field of 29 ranked contenders.
- Lupita Nyong’o (12 Years a Slave)
- Oprah Winfrey (Lee Daniels’ The Butler)
- Julia Roberts (August: Osage County)
- June Squibb (Nebraska)
- Margo Martindale (August: Osage County)
Click here to read my post taking a look at my Best Actress update.
