The Short but Sweet Supporting-Actor Performances of the Season Nothing says “short but sweet” more than this year’s supporting-actor race.  I’m Rebecca Ford, and this week over at Awards Insider I spoke with Andre Braugher, who plays New York Timeseditor Dean Baquet in She Said, Universal’s film about the newspaper’s investigation into Harvey Weinstein.  Braugher only pops into the film occasionally, but, as he told me, “This is not a large role, but I think it’s an important one.” That’s a phrase that applies to many of the supporting-actor performances this year—they may not be in a lot of the movie, but when they are, they pack a punch.  In Braugher’s case, Baquet appears as a mentor and “father figure” who helps guide the reporters through the thorny process of getting sources to talk for their story, and push back against Weinstein’s bullying tactics. And he’s not the only one playing a scene-stealing character who is based on a real person. In Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans, Judd Hirschappears about midway through the film as the main protagonist’s great-uncle, who inspires him to pursue filmmaking and the life of an artist. It’s a short appearance (under 10 minutes), but it’s one of the most memorable. As Hirsch told David Canfield, Spielberg didn’t give him a ton of direction on preparing the character, but he didn’t have to—this was a person Hirsch already knew. “Inside me is the old guy,” he says. “I think that has been true ever since I was born.”  One thing to note about this year’s supporting-actor race, though, is that there are several films, including The Fabelmans, that have multiple supporting-actor performances worth considering. While Hirsch’s nomination feels locked up, it worries me that that may mean there’s not room for Paul Dano, who delivers a more restrained and sensitive performance as the stand-in for Spielberg’s father.  Similarly, The Banshees of Inisherin wouldn’t be the spectacularly funny dark comedy it is without Brendan Gleeson’s rich performance, and he should be considered very seriously in this category. But where does that leave Barry Keoghan, who steals every scene he’s in with his odd yet sweet character? Other dual supporting-actor films include Empire of Light with Micheal Ward and Toby Jones, and Armageddon Time with Jeremy Strong and Anthony Hopkins. In almost every case, the pairings are a veteran actor who is probably more than overdue for some recognition (Hopkins being the exception—he just won an Oscar!) facing off against a newer breakout.  I like to remind myself that these fresher faces will have plenty of opportunities to be rewarded in the future, as I’m sure we’ll be seeing much more from them (and many of these veterans as well, I hope!). And, let’s face it: There will only be one winner at the end of every season. But if you take stock of the plethora of outstanding performances from supporting players this year, it’s pretty clear the real winner is us, the audience. What Are the Golden Globes for If Not to Nominate Javier Bardem for Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile? It’s a gonzo, hilarious performance in an underseen children’s movie—and, yes, it’s awards-worthy. R E A D  M O R E » Michelle Yeoh Was Always Waiting for Everything Everywhere All at Once “My 40 years of experience was like a long rehearsal for this movie,” she tells Vanity Fair. R E A D  M O R E » The Images of Decision to Leave: Inside Park Chan-wook’s Noir Masterwork The director goes deep on six pivotal frames from his new film, which unfurls a spellbinding romantic mystery in the language of old-school film noir. R E A D  M O R E » In Tár, the Suits Make the Maestro According to costume designer Bina Daigeler and star Cate Blanchett, nothing Lydia Tár wears is accidental, be it an impeccable tailored suit or a “defiant” baseball hat. R E A D  M O R E » The Wonder Examines Questions of Hunger and Trauma Florence Pugh dazzles in a moody, grim mystery about the meeting of mysticism and science. R E A D  M O R E »