Theirs, not mine.
HE can’t quite decide upon the most deserving contender for the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. One one hand I’m convinced that King Richard‘s Aunjanue Ellis and her performance as a tennis super-mom, has to take the prize. I’m also persuaded that The Tragedy of Macbeth‘s Kathryn Hunter, the gnome-like contortionist in a triple role. left the most searing impression.
My third-place choice is West Side Story‘s Rita Moreno — a commendable turn in a first-rate musical remake
HE’s fourth-place pick is Ann Dowd in Mass. My fifth-ranked contender is a dispute between In The Heights‘ Olga Merediz (the white-haired matriarch who passes on) and Haley Bennett‘s “Roxanne” in Cyrano.
I felt nothing special for Belfast‘s Caitriona Balfe — fine but whatever. West Side Story‘s Ariana DeBose delivered energy and conviction, but I’m still trying to understand what her alleged magnificence is all about. The Power of the Dog‘s Kirsten Dunst did a great job of playing a depressed and intimidated alcoholic, and she deserves extra credit for managing to look at least eight to ten years older than her own age (39). Passing‘s Ruth Negga is nothing — she glides through a slight, boring film, and doesn’t even begin to look like a BIPOC passing for white.
Due respect but Belfast‘s Judi Dench, The Lost Daughter‘s Jessie Buckley, Nightmare Alley’s Cate Blanchett, Dune’s Rebecca Ferguson and Marlee Matlin in CODA….not this year, not this time.
The vast majority of the Gold Derby go-alongers have Ariana DeBose in their #1 positions; only Dave Karger is man enougb to stand by Aunjanue Ellis.
