Oscars 2015: Best Supporting Actor
We all know that these guys do the heavy lifting when it comes to adding complexity to a storyline.
The Oscars aren’t the first to pick up on these actors’ phenomenal performances. They were all nominated for a Golden Globe and a SAG Award, with J.K. Simmons winning both. Here are this year’s nominees for Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Robert Duvall - The Judge
Robert Duvall plays the self-righteous Judge Joseph Palmer, father of lawyer Hank Palmer (Robert Downey Jr.). After the judge’s wife passes away, Hank returns to his Indiana hometown and stirs up the long-standing tension between father and son. The judge ultimately finds himself in need of his son’s help when he is arrested for a hit-and-run death. Duvall has been nominated for both a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his role in The Judge.
Ethan Hawke - Boyhood
Ethan Hawke plays Mason Sr., dad to his son Mason (Ellar Coltrane). Boyhood was filmed with the same cast over the course of 12 years and depicts the heartachingly poignant truth of growing up as a boy. It captures everyday things like family meals, road trips, birthday parties, and other memorable, relatable milestones. Among much other recognition, Hawke has been nominated for both a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his role in Boyhood.
Edward Norton - Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)
Edward Norton plays Mike Shiner, an actor hired by former movie star Riggan Thomson (Michael Keaton) to replace an injured castmate in a Broadway production. Riggan is used to being in the spotlight and is desperate for a comeback, making for an interesting dynamic between him and his egotistical new costar. Norton has been nominated for two other Academy Awards in the past for his work in Primal Fear and American History X.
Mark Ruffalo - Foxcatcher
Mark Ruffalo plays Dave Schultz, brother to Mark Schultz (Channing Tatum). Both Schultz brothers are already established as American Olympics in wrestling when the wealthy John du Pont (Steve Carell) enters the scene. He invites Mark and eventually Dave to train at the estate that he owns, the Foxcatcher center, and things take a violent, tragic turn for the worse. Among much other recognition, Ruffalo has been nominated for both a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his role in Foxcatcher. Earlier this year, he won the SAG Award for his work in The Normal Heart.
J.K. Simmons - Whiplash
J.K. Simmons plays Fletcher, a ruthlessly intimidating music teacher who uses fear and humiliation as his main pedagogical methods. A first-year drummer named Andrew (Miles Teller) enrolls and quickly realizes the cut-throat nature of the conservatory and of his infamous instructor. Among much other recognition, Simmons won both the Golden Globe and SAG Award for his role in Foxcatcher.
While we want to be the ones to tell you that someone else has a fighting chance, the odds are unequivocally in favor of our favorite love-to-hate band teacher, J.K. Simmons. With 40+ accolade nominations/wins under his belt for Whiplash alone, looks like Simmons is about to get another shiny new toy for his mantelpiece.
