WHO SHOULD WIN: Joaquin Phoenix
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Heath Ledger

On the list of supporting roles we find some starving artists, and some deserving ones.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

• George Clooney for Syriana
• Matt Dillon for Crash
• Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man
• Jake Gyllenhaal for Brokeback Mountain
• William Hurt for A History of Violence

The starving artists of the bunch are a bitter but persistent George Clooney, and the man I thought has been dead since 1985, William Hurt. Clooney will be recognized by the Academy for his acting and directing skills someday, but not Sunday. William Hurt should have been nominated for his role in Syriana before A History of Violence.

In my humble opinion, Jake Gyllenhaal was great in Brokeback but was even better in his subsequent performances this year: Jarhead and Proof. I think that his supporting role in Proof was more captivating than his part in Brokeback. Paul Giamatti has been snubbed by the Academy on several occasions; American Splendor and Sideways come to mind. I think Giamatti was thrown a bone on this nomination, but surely will not win. Matt Dillon has never shown Oscar-worthy performances, until now. His role as the racist cop in Crash (the best film of the year), was simply awe inspiring and captivating. Even though the film was filled with several characters and storylines, everyone walked away talking about Dillon's character and his performance in the film.

WHO SHOULD WIN: Matt Dillon
WHO WILL PROBABLY WIN: Jake Gyllenhaal

Brian Gibson is a Staff Writer for Film School Rejects