Golden Globe Musings: Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced in just a few weeks, so here’s a survey of the contenders and the most likely predictions at this time. Weigh in with your thoughts, and let me know if I’ve left off anyone important. A reminder that the Globes are wildly unpredictable and that it is still a bit early to gauge the reception or awards potential of a number of the so-called “contenders” at this point.

Last year’s nominees:
Matt Damon (Invictus)
Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

I can’t offer much more insight into this category than I did two weeks in my Thursday Oscar spotlight since the pool is pretty much the same. Two notes about the Golden Globes, however, which may be helpful. Bob Hoskins (Made in Dagenham) got a nomination back in 2005 for “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” so I think he has a much better shot here than at the Oscars. Also, the Globes aren’t opposed to honoring multiple performers from the same movie, doing it in both 2005 and 2006 most recently, so Andrew Garfield (The Social Network) and Justin Timberlake (The Social Network) could both get in. After that, we’re back to the same drawing board. Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech) is a lock. Christian Bale (The Fighter) is a good bet, as are Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right) and Sam Rockwell (Conviction). Ed Harris (The Way Back) and Josh Brolin (True Grit) are wild cards, and then there’s John Hawkes (Winter’s Bone). One additional note: this category matched the corresponding Oscar field perfectly last year.

Predicted nominees:
Christian Bale (The Fighter)
Bob Hoskins (Made in Dagenham)
Sam Rockwell (Conviction)
Mark Ruffalo (The Kids Are All Right)
Geoffrey Rush (The King’s Speech)