By Ryan Parsons | Images property of respective holders.
Ben Foster as Charlie Prince
With the 80th Annual Academy Awards quickly approaching, it is time to start with my predictions. To kick things off, we will begin with Best Supporting Actor.
Who is This Year's Best Supporting Actor?
Let me start by giving a nod to Ben Foster for his portrayal of Charlie Prince in 3:10 to Yuma. Not only do I love the film, but the character as well. Though his involvement was limited in the film's overall running time, nothing would have been cooler than to see Foster grab a nod for this cowboy role. I haven't seen a cowboy that full of character (or style, mind you) since Silverado. But he wasn't, so we're moving on.
Philip Seymour Hoffman as Gust Avrakotos
Of the nominees, I would love to see Philip Seymour Hoffman win the award for his role of CIA Agent Gust Avrakotos in Charlie Wilson's War. Not only does he give a perfectly serious portrayal of the character, but also finds tons of moments to deliver laughs. Without him, this political storytelling wouldn't have been half as entertaining.
While it would be sweet to see Hoffman take it, the two top contenders will likely be Javier Bardem for his role in No Country for Old Men and Casey Affleck for his portrayal of Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James.
Javier Bardem as Anton
Both actors have tons of professional support and will be entering the awards show under a curtain of positive hype.
While Javier Bardem's Anton has to be one of the most terrifying hitmen to ever grace the bigscreen, he is also a man of principle. Follow his rules, no matter how bad, and the character will stick to his word. If he ever brings out a quarter and asks you to call heads or tails, run like hell. Seriously, this dude's value of life is almost as freakish as his constant tone of voice.
To make matters worse, he sports a hairdo that would entice one to crack criticism.
Casey Affleck as Robert Ford
Casey Affleck's Robert Ford is a bit more soft-spoken, but almost as creepy. Looking as if he had a stalking crush on Pitt's Jesse James, Affleck's Ford comes across as weak yet sinister; a mixture of attributes that is not all that easy to pull off. Take in the fact that Affleck could have earned the Oscar nod from the trailers alone, one is forced to acknowledge that he is a (very) strong contender.
In the end, I have a feeling that Bardem is going to take it. I'll be cheering for Hoffman, sure, but I do believe it will come down to these two fine gentlemen.
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