Best Supporting Actor 1997: Results

5. Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting- Williams is okay at best and at worst he seems completely false. He is mostly at worst instead of at best.

4. Anthony Hopkins in Amistad- Hopkins is very good as John Quincy Adams, playing the part as it should be played, with a very good final speech.

3. Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets- Greg Kinnear is very good in all his scenes and shows the changes of his character well, even in amidst of bad writing.

2. Robert Forster in Jackie Brown- Max Cherry is not the most complex of characters but Forster plays him as well as possible.

1. Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights- This seems to come a surprise to no one but Reynolds is easily my pick. Burt Reynolds is very good in Boogie Nights making Jack Horner into a fascinating character despite the fact that he could have failed with this character in a numerous amount of way but he never does. He is a strong presence, and creates a memorable character. 

Deserving Performances:
Kevin Spacey in L.A. Confidential

Best Supporting Actor 1997: Robert Forster in Jackie Brown

Robert Forster received his first Oscar nomination for playing Max Cherry in Jackie Brown.

Jackie Brown is an okay crime film but I do find that Tarantino's dialogue gets rather inane and annoying especially in the really long conversations.

Forster plays a bail and bondsmen who bails people out for a criminal (Samuel L. Jackson) then later helps flight attendant Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) cheat that same criminal. Now here is a performance that could not really be amazing no matter who played him or how well they played him and really it could only be at best good. The thing is his character although is not simple or poor he just is not all that complicated. Also his character is always very calm and cool in the way he is written never having to get really very emotional at all. Still Forster does as good of a job as possible with his character.

He has the right coolness and calmness with the character, even though his normal presence is just good rather than amazing. He stays basically the same throughout the film just staying good like that as he slowly goes through the plot mostly as an observer. He interacts with the plot as he needs to and Forster does a fine job but just not that much is ever required for him. He is good such as when he shows a little more to his character in his scene with Grier. They work well together and have good chemistry. Although Forster simply is never that great but I think he always portrays Max Cherry as he should be played. Tough no nonsense, and very smart. He never loses his head or his cool and keeps together throughout the film. His last scene is well handled where he shows his love for Jackie Brown but also his distrust. He still keeps it underplayed but handles it well nonetheless. A performance that fully realizes the character and is a good performance it just is not that much in the end.

Best Supporting Actor 1997

And the Nominees Were:

Robert Forster in Jackie Brown

Anthony Hopkins in Amistad

Robin Williams in Good Will Hunting

Burt Reynolds in Boogie Nights

Greg Kinnear in As Good As It Gets

Who do you pick? What do you predict my ranking will be?