South Philly Review

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Best Supporting Actor

Jonah Hill is having the best year of his professional life, going from rude-boy comedian to legit contender for his against-type work in “Moneyball.” Sadly, neither he nor his older competitors Kenneth Branagh (“My Week with Marilyn”) or Viggo Mortensen (“A Dangerous Method”) will be able to squeeze their way into the race between “Drive” villain Albert Brooks and “Beginners” delight Christopher Plummer, two veterans who’ve dominated the precursors. Brooks could take it, but Plummer has the edge, which should lead him all the way to the Kodak Theater podium come February.

Will win: Plummer
Could win: Brooks
Should win: Mortensen

Best Supporting Actress

Since she smart-mouthed her way into viewers’ hearts back in August, “The Help” scene-stealer Octavia Spencer has been an awards-season sure thing, and with Oscar spoiler Melissa McCarthy (“Bridesmaids”) shut out of the Globes race, this is Spencer’s statuette to lose. Berenice Béjo of “The Artist” and Janet McTeer of “Albert Nobbs” won’t come close, and the heat behind “The Descendants” standout Shailene Woodley has cooled. If anyone can snag Spencer’s gold, its her own co-star, Jessica Chastain, whose stunning breakout year could be enough to turn the vote.

Will win: Spencer
Could win: Chastain
Should win: Chastain

Best Actor – Comedy/Musical

In another year, you might have seen Ryan Gosling walk off with a trophy for his hunky humor in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” or fan favorite Joseph Gordon-Levitt finish first for baring his sensitive side in “50/50.” But, this year, with a film like “The Artist” doing incredibly well in the precursors, it’s unlikely anyone will be able to touch Frenchman Jean Dujardin, who was honored at Cannes and will continue to reap his movie’s benefits. As for Brendan Gleeson of “The Guard” and Owen Wilson of “Midnight in Paris,” their honors were the nominations.

Will win: Dujardin
Could win: Gordon-Levitt
Should win: Gosling

Best Actress – Comedy/Musical

If Michelle Williams hadn’t been kept out of the dramatic race for her expert performance in “My Week with Marilyn,” this award could easily go to Charlize Theron, who’s killer in “Young Adult,” or Kristen Wiig, who takes the cake in “Bridesmaids.” As for Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster, both of whom are nominated for their work in “Carnage” (and only one of whom, Winslet, deserves it), consider it a case of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association filling space and getting stars in the building. To quote a colleague of mine, “They can mail this one to Williams.”

Will win: Williams
Could win: None
Should win: Williams