Best Supporting Actress 2016

05. Rachel Weisz in The Light Between Oceans - As a grieving mother, she is the heart and soul of this movie, which maybe feels a bit melodramatic at times, but her performance is never anything less than perfection.

04. Rachel Weisz in The Lobster - Starring as the love interest in a romantic dark comedy may not sound like it is ripe for solid acting performances, but when the movie is as bizarre and wonderful as The Lobster, and the performance is a textured and complicated as Weisz', then you've got yourself an exception to the rule.

03. Jena Malone in The Neon Demon - One of the weirder movies of the year... Without giving anything away, I will say that Malone has a certain scene that took a ton of balls, and she nailed it. I have always been impressed with actors who are gutsy and fearless, and so that is why Malone earns a spot on my list. But trust me when I say the Oscars wouldn't touch this performance with a ten foot pole.

02. Michelle Williams in Manchester By The Sea - One of the things I love so much about Manchester By The Sea (and there are many things I love) is how restrained it is. They easily could have given Williams a huge sobbing emotional breakdown scene, but they didn't. And the fact that she is still on this list is a testament to how great she truly is.

01. Viola Davis in Fences - There is a certain scene in this movie, and it's about 5 minutes long, that is, I think, the best 5 minutes of acting in the entire year. And those 5 minutes belong entirely to Viola Davis. She is extraordinary, and as good as her scene partner Denzel Washington is, Viola Davis makes you forget all about his existence. She is strong and she is fierce, and the Oscars might as well already engrave her name on the Best Supporting Actress statue because she more than deserves it.