Oscar Nominees: Best Actor in a Supporting Role

My predictions: 4/5, picking Grant over Shannon
My ballot: Come back in February!
The nominees: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water), Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea), Dev Patel (Lion), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals)

I’m much, much happier here than I was last year. I’m glad that Golden Globe winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t here, balking a statistic about the Globe winner always being nominated, and in his place, we have costar Shannon, who was probably the best thing about that miserable movie. The interesting thing about Shannon is that I think he should have a handful of Oscar nominations under his belt, and I was so sad that he was snubbed last year for “99 Homes.” But I wouldn’t rank “Revolutionary Road” or “Nocturnal Animals,” his two actual bids, as his best performances. I’m surprised not to see Hugh Grant here since Meryl did get nominated, but I wasn’t particularly rooting for him. The other four nominees are all from well-received Best Picture nominees. I’m a big fan of them all, particularly Hedges, who I’m so thrilled to see here.

My current bet to win: With Taylor-Johnson out of the way, expect this to be Ali.