Best Supporting Actor - 2018

05. Michael B. Jordan in Black Panther - I've said it once and I'll say it again: a superhero movie is only as good as its super villain. Black Panther is easily the best Marvel entry outside of the Captain America trilogy and one very big reason is Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger, the absolute best villain Marvel has ever given us (second possibly only to Heath Ledger's the Joker in terms of superhero movies in general). Killmonger is the best kind of villain because he is completely justified in his actions, and he's really only a villain because he is pitted against Black Panther himself in his desire to open the Wakanda borders and use their advanced technology to help all the people. This doesn't seem like a particularly villainous idea. Perhaps this is why Killmonger is so profoundly tragic and Jordan's portrayal is so layered and textured that you can't help but be a little on his side.

04. Timothee Chalamet in Beautiful Boy - Last year, Timothee Chalamet gave one of the best performances of the year as the lovesick teenage protagonist of Call Me By Your Name. This year, he shows why he is one of the most exciting young actors out there with a compelling performance as a meth addict in Beautiful Boy. He gets a showcase for his considerable talents in scenes where he's doing everything from begging for money to stealing from his father, to suffering through withdrawal to living in the ecstasy of the high. The movie isn't necessarily great but the fact that you can't keep your eyes off Chalamet elevates the material.

03. Sam Elliott in A Star is Born - There is a particular moment in A Star is Born that is so emotionally devastating, it's hard to hold back tears. It's not the scene you are probably thinking of. Instead, it's almost a throwaway moment. It's a tiny moment without words. It's just a few seconds. A single shot of Elliott reversing out of a driveway after dropping off his brother Jackson (Bradley Cooper) and having a small sweet moment. The camera focuses on his face as he reverses his truck, and the sadness and pain in his eyes is so heartrendingly raw, that it cuts through your soul. That one moment is the moment I can't stop thinking about.

02. Josh Hamilton in Eighth Grade - Josh Hamilton's performance in Eighth Grade is the kind of performance many people are likely to forget. It's not showy or over the top. It's not big or flashy. His performance is warm and comforting, like a soft blanket and a mug of cocoa on a winter's night. He stars as a well-meaning father, navigating the difficult life of dealing with a teenage girl (and even the awkward, self conscious teenage girls are kind of a nightmare, let's be honest). His performance reminds me of the very best kind of performances - those that feel like real life.

01. Alex Wolfe in Hereditary - Toni Colette seems to be getting all the love for her performance in Hereditary (and deservedly so), but Alex Wolfe goes toe to toe and beat for beat with her. His performance as a carefree teenage boy who sinks slowly and maniacally into a morbid fever dream is so compelling, it's hard to argue there is a better supporting performance this year. His slow descent into darkness is the anchor of the film. While his mother (Colette) may or may not be out of her mind, he is the heart and soul of the film, the one character who you truly care about. And bonus points for his expression during the long take after that car crash. He's incredible.