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GOLDEN GLOBES PREVIEW: SUPPORTING ACTOR & ACTRESS

Critics' darling Amy Ryan is one of the top contenders for the Golden Globe (and the Oscar)

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By Josh Kirschenbaum

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Best Supporting Actor

Javier Bardem has been the frontrunner in this category since No Country for Old Men premiered at Cannes back in May. As an international star, he appeals to HFPA voters in their like of foreign things and their love of famous people. Additionally, his role is synonymous with the film. He's the one you come away remembering. His character will undoubtedly become iconic in years to come. He's the biggest lock in the entire Oscar race. Hal Holbrook is a veteran experiencing something of a comeback with his powerful yet limited role in Into the Wild. Though he may be lacking in star power, his performance is strong enough to get him nominated. Casey Affleck is a rising star. He's is also related to Ben Affleck. He won the first role of the season with the NBR and got great reviews for his performance in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Tom Wilkinson is in Michael Clayton, a film the Globes will no doubt love. His role is very showy and he pulls it off well. John Travolta is very famous and gave a lovable performance in Hairspray. The Globes traditionally nominate a famous person in a gimmicky role in a comedy (like Will Ferrell in The Producers). Travolta will likely be that person. Phillip Seymour Hoffman has had a tremendous year, starring in Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, The Savages, and Charlie Wilson's War. Reviews indicate he's a show stealer in Charlie Wilson's, which is not easy to do when you are costarring with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. Right now the film is at a standstill, and until it is released no one can say for sure how big a factor it will be in this year's race. Hoffman could make this category on industry respect alone, regardless of the film's chances.

The Bottom Line:

Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
John Travolta, Hairspray

Sixth spot/upset: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War.

Best Supporting Actress

Cate Blanchett and Amy Ryan share frontrunner status in this category. Both gave raved roles in raved films. Both films underperformed at the box office. Blanchett has the star power while Ryan has won every precursor award that has been given out so far. Both are locks and I'd be willing to bet that one of them will win. Saoirse Ronan is in Atonement, which almost guarantees her a spot here. She's also a rising star. Her only problem is that the Globes rarely honor child actors. They may choose to nominate costar Vanessa Redgrave instead. Redgrave has star power and veteran status, but not as buzzed a role as Ronan's. Marisa Tomei had a comeback role this year in Sidney Lumet's Before the Devil Knows You're Dead. While she doesn't exactly steal the show, it's a significant role and she nails it pretty well. Expect her to be a presence throughout the season. Jennifer Jason Leigh got mixed reviews in a film that was essentially destroyed by critics. Her buzz is something of an anomaly; it only exists because of the weak category and the good buzz she had before the film's release.

The Bottom Line:

Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Marisa Tomei, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Vanessa Redgrave, Atonement

Sixth spot/upset: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Margot at the Wedding

What are your Golden Globe predictions?

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