84th Academy Awards

Best Supporting Actress

Best Director

Best Sup. Actor

Bérénice Bejo

The Artist

The film’s rightful leading lady is a studio extra named Peppy Miller (the meltingly pretty Argentine actress Bérénice Bejo) whose movie career ascends as Valentin’s plummets with the arrival of the talkies.
– Ty Burr

Jessica Chastain

The Help

Playing to the back of the house works … for Chastain, whose breathy dingbat is a universe away from the beatific mother she played in ‘The Tree of Life.’ She and Spencer create great comedy out of the social science fiction of their relationship, and their scenes are the best in the movie.
– Wesley Morris

Melissa McCarthy

Bridesmaids

McCarthy, who once again relies on her weight for laughs, delivers when it counts ...
– Wesley Morris

Janet McTeer

Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer

The Help

Try your luck in our Oscars contest

Ty Burr says ...

As good as Spencer is, I'll go out on a limb here and declare that McCarthy deserves it for creating a great and complete comic character. She can't win, of course. Chastain might have had a shot if they'd nominated her for the right movie (and if anyone had seen it).

Will win
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Should win
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids

Shouldn't be here
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Was robbed
Jessica Chastain, Take Shelter

Wesley Morris says ...

Each woman brings her movie alive. Melissa McCarthy plays less a person than a bunch of broad gags, but they're funny. Spencer achieves something almost more spectacular than Davis does. She invests her stock character with all the comedy, decency, wariness, and outrage she can. And despite one embarrassing scene, she refuses to let you forget her.

Will win
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Should win
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Shouldn't be here
None
Was robbed
None