Best Actress in a Supporting Role 2016: Ranking

5. Naomie Harris in Moonlight

Naomie Harris gives a rather uneven performance in the movie's first two acts, with her portrayal of her character's addiction being convincing at times and shaky at others. But she is absolutely outstanding in her final scene, in which she packs a huge emotional punch.

Best scene: Paula apologizes to Chiron.

4. Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures

It's a very quiet, unshowy role that could have easily been overshadowed but Spencer delivers a lovely, measured performance that subtly leaves an impression. She is entertaining in her portrayal of her character's sarcasm and quite inspiring in her depiction of her resilience, and she shares a terrific chemistry with her co-stars.

Best scene: Dorothy' putdown to Mrs. Mitchell in the bathroom.

3. Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea

Michelle Williams does not have a lot of screen-time in Manchester by the Sea but she makes the most out of it. Her performance in the flashbacks is convincing and realistic, but what truly makes the performance work is her big scene towards the end, in which Williams absolutely delivers giving a devastating portrayal of her character's desperation and regret.

Best scene: Lee accidentally runs into Randi.

2. Viola Davis in Fences

Viola Davis gives a fantastic performance in Fences. She perfectly establishes her character in early scenes, leading up beautifully to her later emotional moments that feel wholly earned by Davis. In the second half of the movie Davis is just groundbreaking in her portrayal of both her character's plight and strength and she matches Denzel Washington's leading performance step by step.

Best scene: Rose finds out about the affair.

1. Nicole Kidman in Lion

Nicole Kidman delivers a truly heartwarming portrayal of motherly love, adding a lot of depth and complexity to the second half of Lion. In spite of her fairly limited screen-time, Kidman leaves an unforgettable impression as she portrays her character's plight but also her endless tenderness and support as well as her determination to keep her family together. It's a truly heartbreaking performance from a great actress.

Best scene: Sue reveals the reason why she chose to adopt.

Honorable Omissions: Lupita Nyong'o delivers an incredible performance in Queen of Katwe and to be honest she was actually very close to being my overall win of the year: she portrays believably her character's hardened, embittered façade conveying her character's backstory through her performance while still showing her good-hearted nature that lies beneath. Greta Gerwig and Elle Fanning get the juciest roles in 20th Century Women and they are both brilliant: Gerwig is extremely captivating in her portrayal of Abbie's peculiar style but at the same time she never allows her character to feel just like a bundle of quirks, adding instead a lot of depth and sensitivity to her performance - the scene in which she finds out that she is probably not goint to be able to have children is heartbreaking; Fanning is equally effective as Julie: with her deep voice and unique beauty she brings the allure the character needs but also reveals an underlying vulnerability that makes her performance just electrifying - her monologue about sex is funny, tender and poignant all at once. Nathalie Baye is fantastic in It's Only the End of the World, portraying very well her character's ditzy, cheerful personality but also her great wisdom: her speech to Gaspard Ulliel midway through the movie is a brilliant, touching moment and one of the movie's highlight. Marion Cotillard is also great in the same movie, disappearing perfectly into the role of the meek Catherine and turning a potentially passive role into an intelligent, empathetic observer, and Lèa Seydoux also leaves an impression as the rebellious but fragile sister. Lily Gladstone delivers a subtle, heartbreaking portrayal of her character's painful loneliness in Certain Women and Michelle Williams is also terrific in the same movie, nailing her character's passive-aggressive demeanor and showing the frustration and unhappiness beneath it. Felicity Jones is devastating in her limited screen-time in A Monster Calls, strikingly depicting her character's physical decay and nailing every emotional beat in her scenes with Lewis MacDougall - her monologue about "breaking things" is one of the most touching scenes of the year. Imogen Poots gives a compelling, magnetic performance in Green Room - she is darkly entertaining but she also projects a humanity that another actress could have easily missed. Janelle Monàe is the standout of Hidden Figures delivering such an entertaining, sassy and loveable performance while being very moving at portraying her character's dream and ambitions. Jena Malone is fantastic in The Neon Demon, turning Ruby into the movie's most disturbing and upsetting character but never losing her character's sad, desperate core even in the edgiest moments; Abbey Lee is equally great as she shows the jealousy and distress that cause her action and absolutely nails the final scene, with her final reaction with absolutely terrific; Belle Heathcote gets the least to do among the three but she's still great at making her character basically an empty, emotionless shell until her final scene in which she's both disturbing and devastating. Rachel Weisz is very moving in The Light Between Oceans, making the viewer sympathize with her character's plight but never becoming overdramatic even when the role itself could have been such: she does not even have much screen-time, but I felt she was actually the best thing about the movie. I found The Hollars to be an extremely poor comedy but Margo Martindale was absolutely great in it, nailing both the comedic and dramatic sides of her performance even when the movie around her was at its worst: if I was ever to rewatch this movie, it would be only because of her layered, funny and touching performance. Anna Foglietta, Alba Rohrwacher and Kasia Smutniak are all great in Perfect Strangers (more detailed thoughts under by review of Jeff Bridges in Hell or High Water). I hated Suicide Squad but Margot Robbie was terrific as Harley Quinn, making for such an entertaining, unpredictable screen-presence but also finding some nuance in the more emotional moments. The more I think about Ghostbusters the less I like it, but Kate McKinnon gives a great comedic performance in it, nailing each of her deliveries and facial reactions. Taraneh Alidoosti is absolutely sensational in The Salesman, delivering a harrowing, devastating and nuanced depiction of her character's traumatized state and sharing a terrific chemistry with her co-star Shahab Hosseini: her acting in the final scenes is astonishing and heartbreaking. Alison Sudol delivers a wonderfully charming performance in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: she is a lovely presence to have on-screen and brings the needed warmth and ditziness to the role while sharing such a tender chemistry with Dan Fogler, with the two actors making their little love story surprisingly heartbreaking. Angourie Rice is terrific in The Nice Guys, delivering such an endearing and entertaining performance completely rid of any awkwardness that can sometimes be found in child actors. She works wonderfully with both Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, creating such an enjoyable and winning dynamic with them. Despite both being limited by the screen-time and the movie's focus, Maria-Victoria Dragus and Lia Bugnar are extremely as the traumatized daughter and the long-suffering wife of the movie's lead character, respectively. 

The next year: Best Actress 2016.

My Best Supporting Actress Ballot:

1. Taraneh Alidoosti, The Salesman - 5/5
2. Nicole Kidman, Lion
3. Lupita Nyong'o, Queen of Katwe - 5/5
4. Greta Gerwig, 20th Century Women - 5/5
5. Elle Fanning, 20th Century Women - 5/5
6. Alison Sudol, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - 4.5/5
7. Nathalie Baye, It's Only the End of the World - 4.5/5
8. Abbey Lee, The Neon Demon - 4.5/5
9. Viola Davis, Fences
10. Felicity Jones, A Monster Calls - 4.5/5