2014 Road to the Oscars: Supporting Actress

          In recent years, the Supporting Actress category has usually had at least one weak link (Jacki Weaver last year for her limited role in Silver Linings Playbook, Melissa McCarthy two years ago for her slapstick role in the broad comedy Bridesmaids, and everybody in The Help except arguably for Viola Davis for Lead Actress; but that's just my humble opinion). This year has broken the pattern, more or less. The nominees are: Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine; Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle; Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave; Julia Roberts, August: Osage County; June Squibb, Nebraska.



          Sally Hawkins' performance was probably the greatest surprise of all the nominees' performances in this category. In the beginning of Woody Allen's new film, she seems like an odd goofball, with an appearance reminiscent of Shelley Duvall in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (which is a great film no matter what Stephen King thinks). Then she has a small transformation of her own; in fact, hers is biggest than the title character, played by the incomparable Cate Blanchett. It is at this point when we get to see more range from Hawkins, making her a respectable nominee. Nonetheless, it would be quite a disappointment if she won.

          Jennifer Lawrence was more enjoyable in American Hustle than she was in director David O. Russell's last film, Silver Linings Playbook, for which she won the Academy Award for Lead Actress last year. In Hustle, there was not the forced level of dramatics and tension that Lawrence strived for in Playbook. In actuality, Lawrence was downright ridiculous in Russell's latest installment. This better suited Lawrence's persona, making her character more believable, even as she crossed over the line into caricatural territory. Although I enjoyed her more than I did Amy Adams, who is nominated for Lead Actress for the same movie, I hope Lawrence will not end up with the same fate as last year.

          Lupita Nyong'o was incredible in 12 Years a Slave. That especially means a lot coming from someone who was not a fan of the film. The emotional abuse and rage of the slave Patsey was directly transposed from Nyong'o on the screen to the audience's souls. She really was just spectacular. Not bad for her feature debut. Not bad at all.

          One could argue that Julia Roberts was the weak link this year, but that would be a nice and solid link. Honestly, it would be easier to judge her performance if the editor would have shown her full face in frame more often, as pictured to the left, but I digress. Regardless of your opinion on the matter of her nomination status, I think we can all agree that this is one of the few roles she has had that showed some emotional depth and legitimate complications. I'm not convinced that she was great, but I am not confounded by her being here.

          June Squibb was crudely entertaining in Alexander Payne's Nebraska. I was not jumping out of my chair for her, but I can appreciate her courageous vulgarity while being a wrinkly old lady. I would definitely be a little outraged if she won, given her tremendous competition. With that said, I completely agree with the voters for nominating her.



          This was a good year for supporting actresses, and I feel comfortable with the nominees. I definitely want Lupita Nyong'o to win. I think she deserves it, and I think she will win. She has had the same level of popularity Octavia Spencer had for The Help; the only difference is that I am rooting for her.