Thursday Movie Picks: Oscar Winners Edition: Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress

a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves

Since for last month's Oscar-related Thursday Movie Picks —  Best Actor and Actress — I picked three leading performances from actresses — performances that made me fall in love with them —, this month I'm picking three supporting performances from men — my favourites of the past decade, which also happen to be the first win for each actor. 

J.K. Simmons, Whiplash (2014)

One of the many things that there's to love about Chazelle's film is Simmons' performance as a jazz teacher. It is arguably one of the best supporting performances ever. 

Mahershala Ali, Moonlight (2016)

While I didn't love the film the first time I watched it, I loved Ali's performance as a drug dealer who becomes a father figure to the main character. He is simply sublime in this and, despite I was rooting for Dev Patel that year, Ali deserved it more than anyone else. 

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Another film I absolutely adore, it features an extraordinary performance from Rockwell as he plays a hateful character who finds redemption. 
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18 comments :

  1. Sara1 April 2021 at 14:33

    JK Simmons is one of those actors that I just love in everything he's in. Same with Sam Rockwell! I feel like he's been so underrated for so long, it was great to finally see him get some recognition. Ali is fantastic as well.

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 15:41

      I completely agree with you! I've watched so many of Rockwell's movies during my Rockwell phase and he always gives great performances.

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  2. joel659131 April 2021 at 19:34

    JK Simmons is a wonderful actor. One of those reliable journeyman that rarely get the recognition nowadays since stars who are hungry for awards allow themselves to be improperly slated into the supporting spot just for a prize, so it was great to see him come out on top. I didn't love Whiplash, it was fine but one viewing was plenty.

    The same goes for Sam Rockwell who has been building an outstanding reputation for years. I think he's had better more worthy roles he could have won for than Three Billboards but I'm glad he finally came out on top.

    Ali is also a fine actor but I hated Moonlight. I was surprised actually how much I didn't like it since the description and all the word of mouth had me anticipating something that would be great but I barely made it to the credits.

    I love the acting awards. I couldn't decide between the categories so I chose three faves from each.

    The Razor’s Edge (1946)-Anne Baxter-Larry Darrell (Tyrone Power) disillusioned by WWI drifts through Europe looking for life’s meaning. In Paris he becomes reacquainted with childhood friend Sophie MacDonald (Baxter) who he remembers as a happy wife and mother. Having lost her family when a drunk smashed into their car Larry finds her a broken, drug addicted prostitute and tries to help her but her sorrows run too deep.

    The Last Picture Show (1971)-Cloris Leachman-In the slowly dying North Texas town of Anarene high school senior Sonny Crawford (Timothy Bottoms) drifts into an affair with the coach’s wife Ruth Popper (the recently departed Cloris Leachman). Though it commences more out of ennui than true feeling their involvement soon causes profound changes to both.

    The Year of Living Dangerously-Linda Hunt-Well connected photographer Billy Kwan (Linda Hunt) takes inexperienced correspondent Guy Hamilton (Mel Gibson) under his wing upon Guy’s arrival in Jakarta. As political tension roils and then escalates to the boiling point both their lives as well as that of diplomat Jill Bryant (Sigourney Weaver) hang by a thread.

    The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)-Harold Russell-At the end of WWII three servicemen return to their hometown to find their way of life radically changed. One of the men Homer Parrish has lost his hands in an explosion, while he has adjusted to living with the hooks that replaced them, he finds the world is a vastly different place for him. Russell, who had suffered the same sort of injury, wasn’t a professional actor but his performance is naturalistic and immensely impactful.

    All About Eve (1950)-George Sanders-In the Broadway world of stage star Margo Channing (Bette Davis) urbane, venomously acerbic and powerful theatre critic Addison DeWitt (Sanders) is tolerated but not liked. Still when Eve Harrington (Anne Baxter) insinuates herself into Margo’s good graces it’s Addison who sees through her sweetness to the vicious climber underneath. My favorite Supporting Actor winner, a perfect meeting of actor and role.

    They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969)-Gig Young-In the soul crushing world of Depression era marathon dances resides opportunistic promoter and emcee Rocky Gravo (Young) a man devoid of scruple or compassion. He sees the contestants-including hard bitten Gloria (Actress nominee Jane Fonda), glamour girl wannabe Alice (Supporting Actress nominee Susannah York), broken down Sailor (Red Buttons) and audience surrogate Robert (Michael Sarrazin)-as so much fodder to be made money off until they lose their usefulness and are thrown away. The deeply troubled Young (he ultimately killed himself and his fifth wife in a murder/suicide) was a preeminent comic actor for years before this revelatory performance.

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 18:05

      I wasn't a huge fan of Moonlight myself but I completely changed my mind when I rewatched it a coupld of years later.

      As for your picks, I've only seen All About Eve and I agree that Sanders deserved to win.

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  3. thevoid991 April 2021 at 22:22

    3 great and deserving winners. All great performances.

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  4. Cinematic Delights2 April 2021 at 09:59

    We have two matches, Sonia - Ali and Rockwell. Whiplash is a great film and J.K. Simmons delivered a strong performance.

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 18:07

      I love Simmons everywhere but he really is terrific in Whiplash. I'm so glad he won.

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  5. Brittani Burnham2 April 2021 at 13:26

    Rockwell is popular this week! I love all these wins, especially Simmons. Whiplash was amazing.

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  6. Katy4 April 2021 at 00:23

    Great picks! I wasn't crazy about Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri, but Sam was great. Love the other two as well. Mahershala had a smaller role in Moonlight but such a big impact.

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 18:08

      I'm sorry to hear that but at least you loved Sam's performance.

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  7. Birgit4 April 2021 at 20:55

    I still have to see Whiplash but I love J.K. Simmons. I remember liking Moonlight but I can't quite remember the film. I really like 3 Billboards and the Rockwell character is so yucky but yet, enjoyable. I was glad he won.

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 18:09

      Please watch Whiplash! The film is terrific and Simmons is incredible.

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  8. ThePunkTheory5 April 2021 at 09:28

    I enjoy Rockwell's performance a lot, but I haven't seen this movie yet. It appears to be very popular this week, so I'm very curious!

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    1. Sonia Cerca7 April 2021 at 18:09

      You should really check it out. He play an asshole but the performance is great, and the film was one of my favourites that year.

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  9. Wanderer8 April 2021 at 23:13

    The only one I haven't seen is Moonlight. Waiting for it to be added on one of the streaming services.

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    1. Sonia Cerca11 April 2021 at 10:36

      It really is a shame that nobody has it yet.

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