Oscar: Acting, Part 2

ACTING UP, PART TWO: The Rumor Mill is getting a visit—from Oscar! Sorry, these spells are becoming more frequent, what with the new medication. Anyhoo, Best Supporting Actor contenders include Tommy Lee Jones’ fire-breathing Lincoln abolitionist, Robert DeNiro as Cooper’s sports-obsessed, obsessive dad in Silver Linings, Alan Arkin’s crusty Hollywood producer in Argo, Phillip Seymour Hoffman’s expansive guru-huckster, AKA The Master, and Christoph Waltz as a charming bounty hunter in Django Unchained. Oscar still likes Sally Field, really likes her, judging by the Best Supporting Actress nom her anguished First Lady in Lincoln elicited. She faces off against early fave Anne Hathaway (who’s making half of America weep shamelessly—and the other half shamefully—as the ill-fated Fantine in Les Mis); Jacki Weaver (as Cooper’s in-denial Silver Linings mom); Helen Hunt as a generous-spirited sex therapist in The Sessions; and Amy Adams as an American cult’s Lady Macbeth in The Master. Ready to pick the winners and say “I told you so?” Go here and fill out your own ballot. We’ll be back to talk about some other geeky Oscar stuff soon. Pass the popcorn. (1/10p)