Oscars 2014: 10 Underdogs Who Might Get Surprise Nominations

10. Best Supporting Actor €“ James Franco (Spring Breakers)

Spring Breakers may not be among the most positively received films of last year, but there was plenty of praise to go around for James Franco's transformative performance as wannabe gangster Alien. Kitted out in grills, tats and braids, it was a totally against-type role for the actor, who has typically spent a career playing variations on his stoner fratboy character. To date, Franco has received a scattering of nominations for Best Supporting Actor among the various critics groups, and even scored a few wins with Ohio, LA, San Francisco, and the National Society of Film Critics. It would certainly be a shock to see him nudge out far more likely on-the-edge nominees like Bradley Cooper (American Hustle), Jonah Hill (The Wolf of Wall Street), Will Forte (Nebraska) and Tom Hanks (Saving Mr. Banks), but stranger things have happened. Perhaps don't count on it, but it's not totally outside the realm of possibility.