Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2007: Ranking

5. Ruby Dee in American Gangster

Ruby Dee is heavily limited by her screen-time but she still delivers a memorable performance that is in many ways the conscience and the heart of the movie. 

Best scene: Mama Lucas finally confronts Frank. 

4. Amy Ryan in Gone Baby Gone

Amy Ryan takes an extremely tricky role and pulls it off exceptionally: the part calls for loud acting and Ryan delivers without overdoing it. She conveys all of the complexities of the character, evoking some sympathy for her plight without glossing over Helen's repulsive personality. 

Best scene: Helene begs Patrick to find her daughter. 

3. Saoirse Ronan in Atonement

Saoirse Ronan's characterization of Briony is nothing short of astonishing: she is never afraid to make her character unlikeable and portrays perfectly her immaturity, but at the same time she manages to be rather moving as she shows that Briony deep down is nothing more than a girl with a crush.

Best scene: "Yes, I saw him. I saw him with my own eyes"

2. Tilda Swinton in Michael Clayton

Tilda Swinton doesn't even get that much screen-time but she makes Karen Crowder an extremely compelling and original villain and easily stands out as the best aspect of the movie. She does a great job in portraying Karen's extremely fragile emotional state and is fantastic in showing her growing paranoia and panic as things get out of her control. 

Best scene: Karen attempts to negotiate with Michael.

1. Cate Blanchett in I'm Not There

Cate Blanchett not only is completely convincing as a male, but she fully disappears into her character: she does an amazing job in portraying Jude's larger-than-life, eccentric personality but she's also fantastic in showing the vulnerability behind the façade,

Best scene: Jude's final scene in the back of the car.

Honorable Omissions: Kelly McDonald's Carla Jean is the bright spot in the dark world of No Country for Old Men and her final scene with Javier Bardem features some of the best acting of the whole year. Marcia Gay Harden's performance as the religious fanatic in The Mist is both darkly entertaining and downright terrifying, and Imelda Staunton is a great villain in Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, bringing the right amount of cruelty and menace under Dolores Umbridge's façade. In Margot at the Wedding, Jennifer Jason Leigh shares a brilliant chemistry with Nicole Kidman and does a great job in portraying Pauline's plight and resentment. Vanessa Redgrave brilliantly delivers the final twist of Atonement and leaves a lasting impression in what are basically four minutes, and Olympia Dukakis does an effective job in slowly revealing the pain under Marian's rough personality in Away from Her. Michelle Pfeiffer is a scene-stealing and entertaining villain in Stardust and Leslie Mann delivers an enjoyable yet layered turn in Knocked Up. The role of the long-suffering wife is hardly particularly interesting or original, but Samantha Morton's performance in Control is a moving and impressive exposition of it. The Edge of Heaven features some effective female performances: Nursel Kose is heartbreaking as an aging prostitute; in the role of her daughter Nurgul Yesilçay is fierce and impressive, and she shares a tender chemistry with the very good Patrycia Ziolkowska, as her girlfriend; but the best is Hanna Schygulla who delivers a masterclass in subtlety that is simply devastating. Emily Mortimer is funny and touching in Lars and the Real Girl, a movie that features also some strong supporting turns by the always reliable Patricia Clarkson and the lovely Kelli Garner.

The next year: 2006. 

Predictions: Congratulations to Alex Marqués, Calvin Law, omar!, ruthiehenshallfan99, Tahmeed Chowdhury and Michael Patison. You can now choose a year you want me to review (the years you'll request now will be reviewed after the previously requested 2006, 1950, 1959 and 1983).

My Best Supporting Actress Ballot:

1. Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There 
2. Hanna Schygulla, The Edge of Heaven - 4.5/5
3. Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
4. Marcia Gay Harden, The Mist - 4.5/5
5. Kelly McDonald, No Country for Old Men - 4.5/5
6. Saoirse Ronan, Atonement 
7. Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone 
8. Imelda Staunton, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix - 4.5/5
9. Jennifer Jason Leigh, Margot at the Wedding - 4.5/5
10. Emily Mortimer, Lars and the Real Girl - 4/5