A Year in Advance Oscar Predictions 2014: Best Supporting Actress

And so we've come to the end of my Year in Advance Oscar Predictions with my picks for Best Supporting Actress. This time a year ago, no one had ever heard of Lupita Nyong'o, let alone predicted her to win an Oscar. But the Academy loves a Cinderella story and this year's potential nominees literally could include Cinderella herself. She may be joined by another of her fairy tale co-stars looking to score her first nom, a previous winner in this category, and a couple of recent Best Actress nominees hoping midnight hasn't struck on their Oscar prospects.

* * *

Best Supporting Actress

Emily Blunt Into the Woods

Viola Davis Get On Up

Marcia Gay Harden Magic in the Moonlight

Anna Kendrick Into the Woods

Rooney Mara Carol

Emily Blunt Into the Woods

The Role: Blunt reteams with her Devil Wears Prada co-star, Meryl Streep, in the movie version of Stephen Sondheim's musical. Blunt plays the part of the Baker's Wife. To break the spell cast on her by a Witch (Streep) to remain childless, she must bring back certain items from the woods. 

Why She'll Be Nominated: Although Joanna Gleason won the Leading Actress Tony for her performance as the Baker's Wife in the original production of Into the Woods on Broadway, I have a strong feeling that Blunt will be campaigned in the Supporting category here. As we've just recently witnessed with Julia Roberts in August: Osage County, even when you are the main protagonist and have more screen time, you NEVER try to compete for a Best Actress Oscar against Meryl fucking Streep. The Witch may have the catchiest songs and a fabulous transformation, but the Baker's Wife is really the heart of the story. As a new mother (Blunt just gave birth to daughter Hazel on February 16), the story of a woman's longing to have a child could resonant with voters. She may also not be the first to come to mind as the star of a musical, which only gives her the potential to impress with the quality of her singing voice. Even though she may have four Golden Globe nominations, it seems the never-nominated Emily Blunt is about due to receive her first Oscar nomination. 

Viola Davis Get On Up

The Role: In this biopic about the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, Davis plays his estranged mother Susie Brown. She was only 16 when she had him and  young James and his mother grew-up in extreme poverty. His mother left him when he was still a young boy to fend for himself.

Why She'll Be Nominated: The last time Davis worked with director Tate Taylor on another Southern drama, The Help, she earned her second Academy Award nomination (and some say robbed of a win) for her performance as a maid in 60's set Alabama. Hoping lightening strikes twice for the pair, Davis is looking to score her third career nomination (if she does, she would have more acting nominations than any other Black actress in history). With two Tony Awards and training from the prestigious Juilliard school, Davis is well-respected and highly regarded in the acting community. The fact that she recently lost the Best Actress Oscar could have voters giving her a make-up nomination here as a substitute. My only hesitation is if the role is large enough to merit attention, but her first nomination in Doubt come about with only 10 minutes of screen time. Needless to say, she is more than capable of making the most of any size part and her prominence in the just-released trailer is certainly promising.

Marcia Gay Harden Magic in the Moonlight

The Role: I don't know! Woody likes to keep the plots of his films under wraps. The actors in the film don't even know the complete story as they're only given the pages of the script that they're in. If I had to take a wild guess, I would say she plays the disapproving mother of Emma Stone's character that happens to find a romance of her own while on vacation in the South of France. 

Why She'll Be Nominated: History has shown us that it is virtually impossible for a successful Woody Allen film to be followed by another one of quality (Vicky Cristina Barcelona was followed by Whatever Works, To Rome With Love unfortunately followed Midnight in Paris). With a profitable box office (a female driven film making money? The world is round, people!) and Oscar love for last summer's Blue Jasmine, the odds aren't looking so good for Magic in the Moonlight. But the last time Woody set a film in the 1920's (we do know that much about the film), Dianne Wiest won in this category for Bullets Over Broadway and co-star Jennifer Tilly also received a nomination. And his last French set film (Midnight in Paris), was his all-time biggest box office champ. Working in a Woody Allen movie is also a great way to score a Best Supporting Actress nomination (his films have received 10 nominations and 4 wins in this category). So it seems like a safe bet that two-time nominee (and winner for Pollock) Marcia Gay Harden could be finding herself in this category once again.

Anna Kendrick Into the Woods

The Role: As the glass slipper-losing, fairy tale princess, Kendrick plays Cinderella in the movie musical. It's your typical rags to riches story. Oh, and she talks with birds. Here's her big number: "On the Steps of the Palace".

Why She'll Be Nominated: Oscar Nominee Anna Kendrick's profile certainly has risen since her Best Supporting Actress nomination for Up in the Air back in 2009. With the surprise success of Pitch Perfect and scoring a Top 10 Hit on Billboard Hot 100 with her performance of the movie's song "Cups", she seems to have secured her place as a hot, young star to watch. This year alone she has six new movies coming out including the movie version of another musical, The Last Five Years. But it seems the Tony-nominated actress's best attempts at a nomination this year will come from her supporting role in the high-profile Disney movie musical. The role of Cinderella brought awards recognition to Broadway star Laura Benanti during the most recent Broadway revival. Hopefully Kendrick can translate her new-found success, musical skills, and comedic timing to steal scenes and capture the Academy's attention. 

Rooney Mara Carol

The Role: In writer/director Todd Haynes' adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt, Rooney Mara plays department store shopgirl, Therese Belivet, in 1950's New York City. After seeing Carol (Cate Blanchett) in her store, Therese is immediately attracted to her (despite having a boyfriend) and forms a relationship with the older woman. 

Why She'll Be Nominated: There's been awards buzz surrounding this film since it was announced and it only just started filming yesterday! Mara, who already scored a Best Actress nomination for David Fincher's Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, took over this part from originally cast Mia Wasikowska. But the role would be an awards' magnet for whomever plays the lesbian lover opposite two-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and working alongside Oscar nominee Haynes in this period-set drama. She also has an advantage by playing a co-lead, giving her more material and time to develop a more complex character. Mara has worked with some impressive directors (Fincher twice, Steven Soderbergh, Spike Jonze, Terrence Malick) over the past few years and seems to be compiling a filmography that's the envy of every young actress in Hollywood. It seems likely that she'll continue to be on Oscar's radar in the upcoming years.

Other Possibilities: Annette Bening The Search, Jane Fonda This is Where I Leave You, Keira Knightley The Imitation Game, Jena Malone Inherent Vice, Sarah Paulson Carol