3. Best Supporting Actor - Christoph Waltz
This is a fantastic category (as it always is - Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Waltz for '...Basterds') this year with a host of names that could very easily take home that award. Tommy Lee Jones, Waltz, Alan Arkin, Robert De Niro and Philip Seymour Hoffman. If I'm honest, I don't have a clue who will win this award. The Globes gave it to Waltz, the Critics gave it to Seymour Hoffman and the SGA went to Lee Jones. Whilst Arkin and De Niro don't seem to be getting as much award's love, I wouldn't rule them out - De Niro has been picking up a lot of momentum lately. But, the award should, as always, go to the actor who gave the best performance and in this case, it was Christoph Waltz for his charismatic, smooth-talking Dr. King Schultz. He works incredibly well with Tarantino's dialogue and he follows up his award-winning 'Inglorious Basterds' performance with another ace. But, he won't win - he won't. I don't know who will win, but my head says it will be Tommy Lee Jones or Seymour Hoffman. The lack of 'The Master' in the Best Picture category may spear-head Hoffman's victory but, as good as he was and is, it's a movie that isn't getting a lot of love (a deserved omission) and his performance doesn't particularly stand out for me. As for Lee Jones, he's never been a likable performer, despite his talent, and his role in Lincoln is over-shadowed by Day-Lewis - I don't think he should win. But he probably will...