Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

It was nice to see Hill in a “real” movie, but this is the old men’s contest. Branagh, Nolte, and von Sydow all oughta be Oscar-winners by now, but all are hindered by their films: Marilyn is too slight, Warrior too obscure, EL&IC too divisive. It will be an easy victory, then, for the marvelous Christopher Plummer in his equally marvelous film. At 82 years old, he’ll break Jessica Tandy’s record as the oldest winner in any acting category, he’ll get a standing ovation, and your mom will say, “Ohhh, I like him!”

Prediction and Personal Pick: Christopher Plummer (though I didn’t see Warrior)