The nominees for this year are:
Josh Brolin in Milk as "Dan White"
Robert Downey, Jr. in Tropic Thunder as "Kirk Lazarus"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt as "Father Brendan Flynn"
Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight as "The Joker"
Michael Shannon in Revolutionary Road as "John Givings"

My Ranking:
1. Ledger - I don't enjoy the film - it is long, cold and clinical - but Ledger's performance is a miracle. Not only does he give the proceedings a real sense of danger whenever he's onscreen, but he provides the film's only touch of humor as well - much like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. He does so many innovative things with his character that it is almost frightening. I can bet that his performance will be incredibly influential to many actors in the years to come.

-.Brolin
-.Downey, Jr.
-.Hoffman
-.Shannon

My Personal Ballot:
1. Bill Irwin in Rachel Getting Married as "Paul"
2. Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight as "The Joker"
3. Jason Butler Harner in Changeling as "Gordon Northcott"
4. Charlie McDermott in Frozen River as "T.J. Eddy"
5. Eddie Marsan in Happy-Go-Lucky as "Scott"

1) Ledger
2) Brolin
3) Downey Jr.
5) Hoffman
6) Shannon

1. Ledger
2. Brolin
3. Hoffman
4. Shannon
5. Downey, Jr.

#1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
-Alive or not, this award should go to Heath Ledger, and not only because his competition is somewhat weak, but he also gave the best supporting performance of the year and one of the most memorable and iconic performances of all time. He will forever be remembered as a legend thanks to his role and any movie villain that comes along after his rendition of The Joker will be very hard to beat.

#2. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
-I personally wouldn't give Hoffman this Oscar for a couple of reasons, mainly because he is more of a lead than a supporting player (though you could make a case for him being supporting). Also, he isn't in the same league as Ledger this year but out of these nominees, he comes in 2nd. There are also other stronger candidates that missed out in this category that were more impressive and also more supporting than his performance. I wouldn't nominate him though because of the Lead/Supporting issue, but based on performance alone, he comes in 2nd.

#3. Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
-A small and very odd performance because despite only being in 2 or 3 scenes, he manages to make a large impression, whether it be good or bad. I am more on the good side than the bad because I thought he gave a very solid performance considering the brief size of the role. "Revolutionary Road" was a good movie that didn't meet the amazing expectations many were hoping for but I do think my expectations for the acting were met and I support Shannon's nomination.

#4. Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
-I didn't hate this performance in the slightest, in fact I thought it was very funny. I am not sure I would've given him a nomination but I don't begrudge it.

#5. Josh Brolin, Milk
-I am one of the few people on this site who seems to not be that impressed with Josh Brolin's performance. In "Milk" alone, I would place Emile Hirsch and James Franco ahead of him. Other than the drunk scene, which still wasn't exactly the most amazing acting, I found nothing in his performance to be remotely worthy of an Oscar nomination or even consideration. Had he had gotten zero notice for it, he never would've even crossed my mind as a contender. He has done better work lately (in movies like "W." and "No Country for Old Men") and he was more worthy of awards notice for those movies but not "Milk".

My ballot would probably look something like this:

Emile Hirsch, Milk
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
Charlie McDermott, Frozen River
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

James Franco, "Milk" could easily take McDermott's spot.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: AJ,

1. Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
2. Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
4. Josh Brolin, "Milk"
5. Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

Ledger without question. I also loved Downey Jr., brilliant and bravely hilarious in what may have been the riskiest acting gambit of the year. Hoffman was terrific in "Doubt," and for the moment I'll ignore the fact that he's really playing a lead role. Brolin was good, though I'm not as passionate about him as the critics groups.

As for Shannon, I don't think he belongs anywhere near this category, though it's not entirely his fault. As directed by Sam Mendes, his two scenes seem to come out of another film entirely, and he strikes the wrong notes. He comes off silly when he should be profound.

I would replace the last two names with Eddie Marsan in "Happy-Go-Lucky" and Bill Irwin in "Rachel Getting Married."

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 742,

1. Heath Ledger
2. Robert Downey, Jr.
3. Josh Brolin

4. Michael Shannon
5. Philip Seymour Hoffman

Since Hoffman did CAPOTE I've been less and less capitivated by his work. I really didn't think much of his priest. I think I should watch DOUBT again. Shannon was the 2nd of only two good things about REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. 1st being Winslet.

Although I really, really want Ledger to win...I would be perfectly fine with either Downey or Brolin. Loved, loved, loved all three of these performances!!! Honestly I hate to say it...but Downey & Brolin will win oscars for other performances...Ledger should win!

1. Ledger
2. Hoffman
3. Downey Jr.
4. Brolin
5. Shannon

Ledger, in my mind, is the worst winner of the Supporting Actor Oscar. He was okay, but the performance never rang "Oscar worthy" at all.

What have the Oscar's come to? Nominating overblown performances, in overblown superhero films?

this catergory this year was ledger - thats it

Heath Ledger. Not much of a contest for me.
But, I still dont get that nomination for Michael Shannon. It seems typical somehow, to throw an acting bone at a largely overlooked film and for no good reason.

It wasn't a real contest, basically Heath Ledger and then everyone else. His was a landmark performance that will be talked about long after most of these other films will.

1. Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
3. Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"
4. Josh Brolin, "Milk"
5. Robert Downey, Jr., "Tropic Thunder"

Ledger; no question!!!!

Had he been alive I still think he would've scored a nomination but it would've been a dogfight between him and RDJ with Brolin nipping at both of their heels.

Ledger.

My Rankings
Ledger


Brolin
Shannon
Hoffman



Downey

My Personal Nominees
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Josh Brolin - Milk
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road
James Franco - Milk
Brendan Gleeson - In Bruges

Ledger
(Irwin)
Brolin
Downey, Jr.
(Marsan)
Hoffman

(didn't see Shannon's performance)

Heath Ledger far and away deserved it for 'The Dark Knight', and I especially think it's silly when people say he only got it because of his untimely passing. You people are pretty shallow. He gave the best performance of this group, and I might be going out on a limb here, but I'd say the whole year, out of every category. Other than Sean Penn in 'Milk', no other performance rivited me or stuck with me as long as his. It will be talked about for years to come. Believe it. My next ranking would be:

Robert Downey Jr.- Tropic Thunder (Bravely hilarious, even using multiple accents and languages, sometimes at once! Funniest performance I've seen in a LONG time)

Philip Seymour Hoffman- Doubt (He always delivers, this is no different. His scenes with Streep are knock-outs, like two grand acting champions duking it out.)

Josh Brolin- Milk (Does great with limited screen time and character development, and honestly I thought Emile Hirsch was more deserving, but his drunk scene did strike a chord with me for some reason, unlike any of Hirsch's scenes.)

Michael Shannon- Revolutionary Road (I thought he was worthy, but his performance at times reminds me a bit of Ledger's as the Joker, but just not as good, or quite as juicy. And this is a little off topic, but I'll never know why Winslet didn't win for this over 'The Reader')

My replacements for Brolin and Shannon would've been Emile Hirsch in 'Milk' and Aaron Eckhart in 'The Dark Knight'.

My Ranking:
1. Ledger - I don't enjoy the film - it is long, cold and clinical - but Ledger's performance is a miracle. Not only does he give the proceedings a real sense of danger whenever he's onscreen, but he provides the film's only touch of humor as well - much like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. He does so many innovative things with his character that it is almost frightening. I can bet that his performance will be incredibly influential to many actors in the years to come.

-.Brolin
-.Downey, Jr.
-.Hoffman
-.Shannon

ditto for heath ledger's commentary.

i haven't seen Tropic Thunder and i guess i don't have to. I like Seymour Hoffman's perf as well as Josh Brolin but i hope they recognize James Franco a bit more because he is so good and really scene stealer. As for Mike Shannon, i think there is nothing wrong of being nominated for having 3 scenes in a film as in fact Jackie Gleason was nominated for "The Hustler" for having 2 scenes; the first half of the movie and before the end of the movie but he makes a big impression over George C. Scott.

In order of preference: Ledger (by a mile), Downey Jr., Hoffman, Shannon, Brolin.

Not the biggest fan of TDK, but Ledger was outstanding.