Oscars 2017: Predicting The Winners
21. Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Viola Davis Should Win: Viola Davis Surprise Win: Michelle Williams
Viola Davis will be the winner of the two Fences powerhouse actors, especially because of the canny move to push her for the Best Supporting Actress category. Her portrayal of Rose Lee Maxson, the frustrated and long-suffering wife to Washington's Troy, is a masterclass in acting. Davis offers a great examination of being subdued by duty to her family, ready to explode after years of suppressing her rage- it is not a case of overacting but entirely justified anger.
Davis is long due recognition for her incredible career, and combined with a deserving turn she is as much of a slam dunk as Casey Affleck for similar reasons. However, if anyone is going to challenge her it will be Affleck's co-star Michelle Williams, whose performance has received a lot of praise if not as much noise as Affleck.
It is unlikely Williams can take the award from Davis, but she has the best chance out of the other 4 nominees. Like Davis, Williams has been consistently brilliant and it could be a situation where the nomination, regardless of film, is an excuse to finally reward her after 3 previous nominations.