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

Golden Globe nominations for this year will be announced very soon, 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 anything 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:
Paul Dano (Love and Mercy)
Idris Elba (Beasts of No Nation)
Mark Rylance (Bridge of Spies)
Michael Shannon (99 Homes)
Sylvester Stallone (Creed)

Last year, I was pretty floored when I got only 2/5 right in this category, and then two of these nominees didn’t make it to Oscar, with an additional inclusion from SAG not making the cut with two brand-new names on the list instead. At this point, it seems like there are some serious frontrunners this year. Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) and Dev Patel (Lion) seem like the surest things. Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) and Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water) are doing well with precursors (and both really deserve to be here), but they’re hardly guaranteed, and Ben Foster (Hell or High Water) must show up too. Duking it out for the last spot are Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) and Liam Neeson (Silence), though it’s hard to know if the latter’s film will land well since it hasn’t been widely seen yet.

Current predictions:
Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water)
Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea)
Liam Neeson (Silence)
Dev Patel (Lion)