The Best Supporting Actor race is another open field, sort of. The five nominees I have selected are five great performances (more or less.), but there are other great supporting roles that deserve attention. While there is a clear frontrunner in the category, it is harder to choose among the other contenders.

Best Supporting Actor

• Mahershala Ali – Moonlight
• Jeff Bridges – Hell or High Water
• Lucas Hedges – Manchester by the Sea
• Liam Neeson – Silence
• Dev Patel – Lion

Will Win: Mahershala Ali

Ali is a runaway favorite in this category. His performance in Moonlight should be star-making for him. Jeff Bridges and Lucas Hedges are also integral parts of their respective films; they will almost certainly be nominated. Patel is going to squeeze in in spite of my personal protests. And Neeson rounds out the category in the tilt position.

If not Neeson, or if the Academy goes the way of the HFPA and snubs Hedges, then we may see Hugh Grant (Florence Foster Jenkins) or Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) in their stead. I would personally be overjoyed to see Shannon get some love for his gruff performance in Animals.

As always, thanks for reading!

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—Alex Brannan (@TheAlexBrannan)