Breaking it down: Simply Supportive

I truly enjoy Academy Awards season, I study the winners, become very animated when talking about predictions and the nominees and look forward to the highlight: The big night. This year it's Sunday, March 5, and I'll be watching as the ceremony unfolds and the winners are crowned. I haven't yet had a chance to break down the nominees so I'll do that now. I won't be predicting the winners just yet but when I do I'll also be pontificating on who I think SHOULD win. Sometimes my predictions for who will win and who should do not line up.

First of all let's look at the snubs; the people who didn't get a nomination despite critical acclaim and buzzing about getting nominated. There are always going to be good performances that don't get nominated, winners of other awards that don't make the Oscar cut, and missed opportunities to bestow the honor of an Academy Award nom on an actor/actress. Here are the supporting actresses that got snubbed.

Thandie Newton for Crash, Shirley MacLaine for In Her Shoes, Maria Bello for A History Of Violence, Gong Li for Memoirs Of A Geisha, and Scarlett Johansson for Match Point, and Taraji P. Henson (my choice for biggest snub in this category) for Hustle & Flow. Now here are the ones who did make the cut.

Catherine Keener was nominated for her role as novelist Harper Lee in the film Capote. She gives quiet yet steely support to Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of the controversial Capote. She compels us with each scene she is in.

Michelle Williams scores her first ever nod for her role as Alma Del Mar; a woman who discovers the truth about her husband but cannot do or say anything about it.

Rachel Weisz plays Tessa, a woman who meets an untimely death, in the political thriller The Constant Gardener. After showing us some promise in the Mummy films and the movie Constantine, she proved she is more than just a "popcorn" actress.

Frances McDormand returned to her Midwest roots in the role of Glory in the film North Country. A role that could have very very easily been so cliched was turned brilliant by McDormand. As she dusts off her accent from Fargo she proves once again that she is a powerful actress.

Amy Adams scores her first nod for the film Junebug. You may not have heard of this film as it is a small movie with no major movie stars. It didn't get a run in the major theatres and it's a quiet film with no big scenes filled with histrionics. Adams commands each scene she's in, however, and delivers one of THE most refreshing performances of all of last year.

The men had some major snubs as well. Some of the ones who didn't get a nod are Don Cheadle for Crash, Bob Hoskins for Mrs. Henderson Presents, Ed Harris for A History Of Violence, Peter Sarsgaard for Jarhead (my pick for 2nd biggest snub) and my pick for biggest snub, Donald Sutherland for Pride & Prejudice. Here are the manly men who did make the cut.

Matt Dillon scored a nod as a cop who takes advantage of an African American woman during a "routine" traffic stop and then ends up rescuing that same woman from a fiery death.

Jake Gyllenhaal made the cut as Jack Twist in the critics darling Brokeback Mountain. His role could easily have been a caricature but he handles the character with deft.

George Clooney 35 pounds, grew a beard, and channeled his inner schlub for the role of Bob Barnes in the sprawling Syriana.

William Hurt scored a nod for his role as Richie, a mobster who is onscreen for only 10 minutes, in the film A History Of Violence.

Paul Giamatti FINALLY netted a nod for his role as Joe Gould, the manager of Russell Crowe's James J. Braddock, a role that could have easily been overlooked. As with his other roles, however, Giamatti made the ringside character just as interesting and compelling as his man in the ring.