Next Year: Musical Project: Best Leading Actress 1968

The Nominees:
Barbra Streisand - Funny Girl
Joanne Woodward - Rachel, Rachel
Katherine Hepburn - The Lion in Winter
Patricia Neal - The Subject Was Roses
Vanessa Redgrave - Isadora

What are your nominees? What is your ranking? What is your prediction for my ranking? Write in comments! 

Best Supporting Actor 2016

5. Lucas Hedges - Manchester by the Sea
Hedges is great in a subtle portrayal of grief and sorrow. Rightfully was this performance his breakthrough to more great roles in Hollywood. As Patrick, he is able to even bring the right amount of humour into the film and has got a great chemistry with Casey Affleck. In some brief moments you can see his inexperience, but those moments are forgivable, as they are really very brief.

4. Jeff Bridges - Hell or High Water
Bridges is great especially in the escalated moments of the film, but makes a nice presence throughout the entire film. The film itself is quite forgettable and Bridges doesn't help it, but it probably isn't very much his fault. Bridges uses an accent that is a bit distracting, but you get used to it quite easily. Long story short, it is a respectable performance in a decent film (though I'd prefer Foster to be nominated) and one certainly belonging into the year's top ten.

3. Mahershala Ali - Moonlight
This is a very fine winner that actually stood the test of time as one of the better ones and I can't complain too much about it. In a short time, Ali is able to leave a long lasting impression in a role that is not very showy (and it's not villainious, either). Very subtle performance, but works perfectly for the film.

2. Michael Shannon - Nocturnal Animals
Shannon is an that usually has a great on-screen charisma, though sometimes it is not used for the best. Furtunately, Nocturnal Animals uses it very well. He handles the character full of twists and layers with ease. The cherry on top of it is a masterfull scene in a cabin at the end of the film. It's only the script's holes (some of whom he can't save) that prevent him from being my win.

1. Dev Patel - Lion
Very consistent nominees throughout, in terms of quality. For now, I'm going with Patel. He makes a lasting impression, has got a great on-screen charisma and in fact elevates his film (rather than being overshadowed by it). Great chemistry with his co-stars and being able to lead his part of film gets him this win.

My Nominees:
1. Yosuke Kubozuka - Silence
2. Ben Foster - Hell or High Water
3. John Goodman - 10 Cloverfield Lane
4. Trevante Rhodes - Moonlight
5. Dev Patel - Lion

Best Supporting Actor 2016: Dev Patel - Lion

Lion is actually a very fine film that has fot some great acting and very nice direction.
Though Patel plays the leading role of Saroo, I don‘t have a problem with his placement in the supporting category, as he doesn‘t appear until the half of the film. Before that, his character is played by Sunny Pawar, because in its first half the film focuses on Saroo‘s childhood. Even though Pate is able to continue in what Pawar had done with the character and does a great job by convincing us that he plays the same character, it‘s not as mindblowing, as with the Moonlight actors‘. The reason for that might be mostly because the age gap between Pawar and Patel is bigger, than between Hibbert, Sanders and Rhodes, so I can‘t actually blame Patel for that.
The strongest aspect of his performance is the on-screen charisma. Patel wonderfully portrays the passion and eagerness to find his way home. The story itself is not too juicy and his actions wouldn‘t be so interesting, had not it been for Patel‘s charm and presence.
Patel also has chemistry with Kidman, Mara and the actor playing his brother. That is the relationship that defines this performance – the bullheadness he acts with makes a very strong impression.
Patel not only shines in the juicy scenes (like the argument with Mara in the street), but also in the subtle ones. For example when he‘s searching for the place he was raised in, or the one at the end (SPOILER ALERT), when he finally meets his mother. This particular scene is overlonged, but you don‘t feel bored thanks to Patel‘s performance. (END OF SPOILER) Patel never allows the film to overshadow him (unlike Slumdog Millionaire) and this film definitely could have ended the same way.
The chances of winning an Oscar: The Bafta win might have boosted him put. He was fighting for the second place with Bridges.

Best Supporting Actor 2016: Mahershala Ali - Moonlight

Moonlight is a great film that won an Oscar for best picture under very unfortunate circumstances, but it‘s a shame that the incident overshadows the quality of the film.
Mahershala Ali‘s performance in Moonlight is a very brief one, yet you will remember him after watching the film. It‘s an imporant role for the plot and the development of the leading character. And one thing that is very appreciatable is that this actually is a supporting role, in times when the Academy tends to make category frauds. It‘s an understated performance, but works wonderfully for the film.
Ali has got a great screen presence. It is very much visible in the scene, in which he first meets Little. He is somehow able to create an atmosphere around his characer, that we immediately start to sympathize with him, despite the character not being an angel.
Another great acting moment is his argument with Little‘s mother. He doesn‘t speak a lot throughout the scene, but you see all in his eyes.
Ali certainly is a worthy winner (we‘ve had much worse ones in recent years), though I probably would prefer other supporting male performances from the film and I‘d very much appreciate their nomination (Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders).