Oscar Watching: Waiting…

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Oddly enough, this is the one acting category in which I’m the most confident. Lupita Nyong’o already overcame last year’s actress winner, Jennifer Lawrence, at SAG, and this season’s biggest Cinderella story should pave the way to victory.
1. Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave
2. Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle
3. June Squibb for Nebraska
4. Julia Roberts for August: Osage County
5. Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Of the four anticipated acting winners, Jared Leto feels the most vulnerable: This might come across as tacky, but it’s difficult to imagine many of the older voters checking a personality like Leto on their ballots.
This is the one acting category primed for an upset, but who wins? Michael Fassbender goes big in 12 Years, but the role might be too much for voters. Bradley Cooper and Jonah Hill are now two-time nominees, but will voters feel like honoring either so soon? Maybe Barkhad Abdi’s Cinderella narrative carries him to a surprise victory.