2020 Awards Season: Oscar Highlight: Best Supporting Actor

February 4, 2020

Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood

Our annual Oscar Prediction contest underway so 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. We are continuing our schedule with Best Supporting Actor. This might be the least competitive category we talk about this year.

(Note: All previous awards listed are only for acting and not other categories. However, they are for supporting and lead acting. Previous awards and nominations for TV roles are not included, on the other hand.)

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Tomatometer Score: 95% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actor's Previous Major Nominations: Five Oscars, Four BAFTAs, Nine Golden Globes, and Eight SAGs
Actor's Previous Major Wins: Two Oscars, Four Golden Globes, and Two SAGs
Notes: Tom Hanks has won too many major awards to win another unless he gives one of his best performances of his career in one of the best movies of his career. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is not that movie.

Anthony Hopkins for The Two Popes
Tomatometer Score: 89% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA and Golden Globe
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actor's Previous Major Nominations: Four Oscars, Five BAFTAs, Five Golden Globes, and Four SAGs
Actor's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar and Two BAFTAs
Notes: This is by far the smallest movie on this list. In fact, it is so small I’m sure most Oscar voters have never seen it. Since you can’t vote for something you haven’t seen, its chances of winning any Oscars is slim to none.

Al Pacino for The Irishman
Tomatometer Score: 96% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globes, and Two SAGs
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actor's Previous Major Nominations: Eight Oscars, Four BAFTAs, and Fourteen Golden Globes
Actor's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar, One BAFTA, and Two Golden Globes
Notes: If Al Pacino hadn’t already won an Oscar, then he would be in prime shape for a make-up Oscar this year. Oscar voters love to give Oscars to substandard performances if the actor had been snubbed many times in the past. In fact, Al Pacino could be the poster boy for this phenomenon.

Joe Pesci for The Irishman
Tomatometer Score: 96% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globes, and Two SAGs
Movie's Previous Major Wins: None
Actor's Previous Major Nominations: Two Oscars, One BAFTA, and Two Golden Globes
Actor's Previous Major Wins: One Oscar and One BAFTA
Notes: This actor has previously won an Oscar and is dealing with vote-splitting as well. Neither he nor Al Pacino have any chance to win this year.

Brad Pitt for Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood
Tomatometer Score: 85% Positive
Movie's Previous Major Nominations: BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Two SAGs
Movie's Previous Major Wins: BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG
Actor's Previous Major Nominations: Three Oscars, Three BAFTAs, Five Golden Globes, Seven SAGs
Actor's Previous Major Wins: One Golden Globe and One SAG
Notes: A HREF=https://m.the-numbers.com/person/730401-Brad-Pitt>Brad Pitt was nominated for every previous major award the film was eligible for and he has won each one. He’s practically a lock for the Oscar. It won’t be his first Oscar, but it will be his first Oscar for acting, which is another reason to bet on him winning.

Conclusion: Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood is not Brad Pitt’s best movie, but he has a lot going for him when it comes to the Oscar. He’s won every previous major award and has been passed over by Oscar voters multiple times. The latter point shouldn’t be a factor, but we’ve seen many, many times that it is.


-

Filed under: Awards Season, The Irishman, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, The Two Popes, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Joe Pesci