AFT Awards: Best Actress in a Supporting Role

This is the fourth category of the 1st Annual AFT Film Awards to be announced. The AFT Awards are my own personal choices for the best in film of each year and the best in television of each season. The AFT Film Awards include the traditional Oscar categories and a number of additional specific honors. Nominees are listed in alphabetical order by film title. Winners will be announced in late February.

Runners-up:
CATE BLANCHETT, I’M NOT THERE
ADRIENNE SHELLEY, WAITRESS
ALICE EVE, STARTER FOR 10
STINE FISCHER CHRISTENSEN, AFTER THE WEDDING
MARISA TOMEI, BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD

Note: see these movies!

The nominees:
SAOIRSE RONAN, ATONEMENT
Thirteen-year-old Ronan is one of three actresses who portrays the character Briony in “Atonement”. Her character is not likeable in any sense other than the fact that she is obviously a talented writer of fiction and plays, and Ronan perfectly captures that unlikeability and uses it to her advantage. The best surprise of all is that newcomer Ronan is better than both her most established co-stars who portray her in future years. Ronan is the actor with the most screentime in “Atonement” and she utilizes it so well.

DANIELLA WIRCER, THE BUBBLE
Amidst a terrific cast of young actors, Wircer stands out as the intrepid Lulu, a fearless protestor and devoted friend. This is a woman you can really respect and you definitely do not want to get caught cheating on her. Out of the four friends in the film, Lulu has the least amount of screentime and character development but Wircer makes up for it, making Lulu and her art project that graces the poster for the film all the more poignant.

ALISON LOHMAN, DELIRIOUS
In a film about ruthless paparazzi and the air-headed stars they lust after, who would have thought that the star actress would end up being the most likeable character of all? She is selfish and self-obsessed, but at the same time, Lohman’s K’Harma is actually a semi-talented actress with real feelings and genuine affection for those who pamper her and even court her. The most gratifying part of it all is that she is much smarter than she looks.

GRETCHEN MOL, PUCCINI FOR BEGINNERS
All the other characters in this film, though the actors and performances are excellent, seem jaded and undaunted by the complicated love triangles and situations in which they find themselves entangled. It is only Mol’s Grace who clearly expresses such vibrant joy and excitement in all that she is doing. Her fascination with and skill in glassblowing only adds to her charm.

REBECCA HALL, STARTER FOR 10
Just like her character, Rebecca, Hall has to compete for time and attention with all of her co-stars. Her effortless chemistry with James McAvoy’s dorky college student is made more effective by her carefree attitude towards the attraction. Hall seems to be a terrific actress who has a lot of potential, though I wish she would get bigger roles in more noticed movies. I have already seen her turn in the upcoming “Frost/Nixon”, where she is, predictably, excellent but has such sadly minimal screen time.