Did They Get it Right? – Best Supporting Actor – Oscars 2007

Here are the five nominees: (Winner in Bold)

Casey Affleck (The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford)

Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson’s War)

Hal Holbrook (Into the Wild)

Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton)

Biggest Snub:

Robert Downey Jr. – Zodiac

My Overall Thoughts:

This is another year where there were 4 good (not great) nominees along with an amazing one, so there really wasn’t much of a competition and it was pretty much a foregone conclusion who would walk away with Gold.

My Rankings:

Supporting Actor

5. Philip Seymour Hoffman
4. Casey Affleck
3. Tom Wilkinson
2. Hal Holbrook
1. Javier Bardem

Movies

5. Charlie Wilson’s War – Not your typical Sorkin kind of script but still resonates of his involvement. Interesting story that has had a huge ripple effect on global events over the last 35 years. Hanks is superb as always but I was slightly disappointed with Hoffman and Roberts’ performances. Despite being based on a true story , I felt it was weak in its delivery and didn’t feel better than an average film.
4. Michael Clayton – Great acting by Clooney, Wilkinson and Swinton which carries this thriller. Not sure if it really should have been nominated for Best Picture tho.
3. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford – Interesting yet very slow look at how fame can be such a huge motive for someone to commit an act. The narration in this film works extremely well to give us more of a sense of being a fly on the wall. Great cast led by Affleck and Pitt. Really loved how the title makes it seem as if you know everything you need to about the story but in reality, it is so very layered that you don’t really know what to eventually expect. A bit too long for it’s own good, but if you go into it with a feeling of patience, it can be quite an experience.
2. No Country for Old Men – One of The Coen brothers best movies. Very deserving of Best Picture in 2007. Great cast with some very memorable characters.
1. Into the Wild – Such an amazingly shot film that does a wonderful job keeping things interesting. The non-linear was that the story is told gives us a grander perspective on the story. Amazing how this story was put together based on journal entries. We get to feel the message so easily and the main characters seems so familiar a character that he could be a close friend or relative with anyone watching this story unfold. Hirsch does an amazing job with the title role and appears in just about every scene. I’m a bit surprised that he wasn’t more recognized during Awards season for this role. Some of the people that he meets on his journey are developed very richly and gives us such an idea of how most souls can all be seeking similar goals but use different methods while trying to get there. Penn does an amazing job directing this film. The only drawback is that this film pulls you in so deeply that afterwards you might feel completely drained by what has transpired before your eyes.

Do I agree with the Oscar winner? – No question about it!  JB is great as the creepy serial killer and gave the most powerful performance of the 5 nominees.Holbrook comes the closest with his amzing yet very small role, but no one really had a chance against JB.

Let me know what you think about these films and my rankings!