SAG Winner Predictions: Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role

The competition: Mahershala Ali’s renowned musician (Green Book), Timothée Chalamet’s troubled addict (Beautiful Boy), Adam Driver’s undercover detective (BlacKkKlansman), Sam Elliott’s dedicated manager (A Star is Born), and Richard E. Grant’s conspiring author (Can You Ever Forgive Me?).

For your information: Ali won two SAG Awards in 2016, as part of the cast of “Hidden Figures” and individually for “Moonlight,” which also netted him another ensemble bid. He also contended as part of the ensemble of the 2008 film “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” and the TV series “House of Cards” in 2014 and 2015. Chalamet was nominated last year for “Call Me By Your Name” and as part of the ensemble of “Lady Bird,” and previously in 2012 as part of the ensemble of “Homeland.” He is the only one in this category not nominated for an Oscar. Grant won as part of the ensemble of “Gosford Park” in 2001. This is the first nomination for both Driver and Grant, who are the only ones nominated this year as part of their ensembles. Ali won both the Globe and the Critics’ Choice Award. All but nine times since the SAG Awards’ inception in 1994, the winner of this award has gone on to win the corresponding Oscar.

Who should win? I wasn’t so taken with Chalamet’s performance, and while I like Elliott, this wasn’t a huge part for him. I like Driver too, but this isn’t his best work. Grant was fun, but my vote goes to Ali.

Who will win? This should be Ali barring a surprise upset.