Oscars 2017: Who Should Win Every Award (And Who Actually Will)

24. Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role

Nominees: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight), Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water), Lucas Hedges (Manchester By the Sea), Dev Patel (Lion), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals)

Who Should Win

Mahershala Ali.

Ali isn't in Moonlight a lot - indeed, given the hype around his performance, I expected him to appear a lot more - but it's something that works to his advantage: his presence lingers even as his character doesn't, and you're wanting to see more of him. His drug-dealer, who cares for young Chiron in the first third of the film, is conflicted-but-caring, and it's etched all over Ali's moving performance.

Who Will Win

Mahershala Ali.

This isn't quite the lock it seemed a month or so ago, after Aaron Taylor-Johnson's surprise win at the Globes, and then Dev Patel scooping the award at the BAFTAs. Ali did win the SAG award though, and swept almost all of the smaller ones on the circuit. Plus, the Globes like to be different, and BAFTA have a Brit bias. It'd be a big surprise if this didn't go to the House of Cards actor.