Top Ten List: Best Supporting Actor 2009

10. Liev Schrieber in Taking Woodstock - Remember when I mentioned my Best Supporting Actor list was lacking at best? Well, here's the proof. Sure, Shrieber was a hoot as a 6'4"ish cross dressing security enforcer in Ang Lee's Woodstock opus. Best Supporting Actor though? Only in mediocre 2009.

09. Sam Worthington in Terminator Salvation - Then there's Worthington. I mean, he was great as half man / half machine Marcus Wright. Still, I'd argue that he's the lead. Worthington and Anton Yelchin's Kyle Reese are more stars of the film than Christian Bale's John Connor. Again, in a bad year for supporting men, Worthington makes my list. Bonus points for being SUPER hot.

08. Giovanni Ribisi in Avatar - I've liked Ribisi for so long that it's almost easy to forget how versitile he is. Whether playing truly creepy characters in movies like The Dead Girl and The Gift or playing Phoebe's dumb brother on Friends, Ribisi is always switching it up. In Avatar, he plays a slick and evil corporate type, ready to ruin a civilization in order to make a quick buck.

07. Jake Gyllenhaal in Brothers - Gyllenhaal's role isn't nearly as showy as co-star Tobey Maguire's. I keep wanting to say the fact that he plays a bad boy is playing against type but he has played a lot of rebellious teens and troubled young men. Still, Gyllenhaal is charming as hell and manages to keep up with the great acting ensemble of Maguire and Natalie Portman.

06. Alfred Molina in An Education - Sure, this movie belongs to Carey Mulligan and her star making performance. But Molina is damn fine too. At the beginning, he's a strict father who doesn't even allow his 16 year old daughter to play music too loudly. But then, he's getting seduced by a smooth talking man just as easily as his impressionable daughter.

05. Jude Law in Sherlock Holmes - Chalk it up to the chemistry with Robert Downey Jr. or the fine dialogue. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a fan of Jude Law's but I did quite like him in Sherlock Holmes. He's Dr. Watson, Holmes' much more sensible partner who still manages to be plenty witty and charming in his own right.

04. Jackie Earle Haley in Watchmen - I hated the movie. In fact, I think the absolute one and only thing I liked about the movie was Jackie Earle Haley's performance as a morally righteous superhero. He's such a bad ass that he pities cell mates for being locked up in prison with him. I for one can't wait to see what he does with Freddy Krueger!

03. Paul Schneider in Bright Star - I've been a fan of Schneider's since the days of his collaborations with David Gordon Green. I'm glad he's finally found a role right for him. He is essentially the villain of the story, thinking Fanny Brawne a silly girl and trying to come between her love affair with John Keats. He plays the role with such heart that you're glad that when tragedy strikes, he becomes a source of strength.

02. Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker - Jeremy Renner may be getting most of the attention and, believe me, he deserves it. But, Mackie (who also played Tupac this year!) is just as deserving of praise. He's the level-headed, rational thinking soldier opposite Renner's reckless adrenaline junkie. A superb and subtle performance.

01. Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds - I can't think of another performance in recent memory that is so all over the place but so perfectly controlled. Waltz can make you laugh and then terrify you in the span of a few seconds. His Nazi is evil incarnate - suave, sophisticated, witty, clever, intelligent, and absolutely sadistic. His is the best kind of villain; someone you truly love to hate.

Tomorrow = Best Actress!