In a season rife with high-profile stars commanding attention at every turn, now’s the time to spotlight performers delivering exceptional but quieter work — especially those whose names haven’t entered the Oscar conversation lately, even though their talent never waned.
Russell Crowe reminds audiences of his formidable screen presence in James Vanderbilt’s World War II drama “Nuremberg.” The Oscar winner, known for career-defining roles in “Gladiator” and “A Beautiful Mind,” brings gravitas and nuance to his portrayal of Hermann Göring, Hitler’s second-in-command, in the lead-up to the Nuremberg trials. More than half his dialogue is in German, and the work powerfully showcases Crowe’s fearsome intensity and depth. His talent is as potent as ever, even if the spotlight has shifted in recent years.
Kate Hudson delivers a revelatory performance in Craig Brewer’s crowd-pleaser “Song Sung Blue,” the poignant story of a Neil Diamond cover band in which the themes of love, family and art intersect. Hudson, who earned an Oscar nomination more than two decades ago for “Almost Famous,” has often been cast in lighter romantic comedies. And while she has stood out in films like “Nine” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” she’s rarely given credit for her range. As Claire Sardinia, she taps into deep reserves of feeling, offering a dramatic turn that reaffirms the promise she displayed early in her career — and demands a place in this year’s awards conversation.
Veteran actor William H. Macy brings his signature understated brilliance to Clint Bentley’s meditative drama “Train Dreams.” Known for his Oscar-nominated role in “Fargo,” along with memorable parts in “Seabiscuit” and “Boogie Nights,” Macy has long been a master at portraying ordinary people in extraordinary circumstances. As Arn Peeples, an explosives expert working in railroad construction during a time of rapid change in America, Macy delivers a quiet but emotionally resonant supporting turn. It’s a skill that’s kept him a trusted presence for both directors and audiences for decades.
For many millennials and Gen Xers, Lucy Liu is best known as one-third of the action trio in “Charlie’s Angels.” But in the indie drama “Rosemead,” released by Vertical, she sheds her action-hero persona for something far more intimate and haunting. Liu, whose career has spanned everything from prestige television to independent cinema, has long delivered consistently strong performances — so consistently that her excellence is often taken for granted. As Irene, a mother grappling with the horrific discovery of her teenage son’s violent obsessions, Liu gives a restrained yet complex performance that deserves renewed attention.
What unites these four roles isn’t just their quality but their timing. In an industry constantly chasing the next big thing, these veterans remind us that greatness doesn’t fade. As audiences finalize their best-of lists and critics begin debating awards contenders, these under-the-radar turns deserve serious consideration. Not for nostalgia’s sake, but because they’re proof that these actors are still at the top of their game.
Thanksgiving offers a chance to reflect — not only on what’s buzzy and new, but on why we fell in love with these actors in the first place.
The latest Oscar predictions are below.
“Rosemead”
Courtesy of Rosemead Project LLC
*** = PREDICTED WINNER
(All predicted nominees below are in alphabetical order)
Best Picture
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Jay Kelly” (Netflix)
“Marty Supreme” (A24)
“No Other Choice” (Neon)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Sentimental Value” (Neon)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Director
Paul Thomas Anderson, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
Park Chan-wook, “No Other Choice” (Neon)
Ryan Coogler, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Joachim Trier, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Chloé Zhao, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Actor
Timothée Chalamet, “Marty Supreme” (A24)
Leonardo DiCaprio, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Ethan Hawke, “Blue Moon” (Sony Pictures Classics) ***
Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Wagner Moura, “The Secret Agent” (Neon)
Actress
Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet” (Focus Features) ***
Cynthia Erivo, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Kate Hudson, “Song Sung Blue” (Focus Features)
Chase Infiniti, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Renate Reinsve, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Jacob Elordi, “Frankenstein” (Netflix)
Paul Mescal, “Hamnet” (Focus Features)
Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Stellan Skarsgård, “Sentimental Value” (Neon) ***
Supporting Actress
Elle Fanning, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Ariana Grande, “Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) ***
Regina Hall, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas, “Sentimental Value” (Neon)
Teyana Taylor, “One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
Original Screenplay
“Blue Moon” (Sony Pictures Classics) — Robert Kaplow
“Jay Kelly” (Netflix) — Noah Baumbach, Emily Mortimer
“Marty Supreme” (A24) — Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie
“Sentimental Value” (Neon) — Joachim Trier and Eskil Vogt
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ryan Coogler ***
Adapted Screenplay
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Guillermo Del Toro
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Chloé Zhao ***
“No Other Choice” (Neon) — Park Chan-wook, Lee Kyoung-mi and Jahyee Lee
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Paul Thomas Anderson
“Train Dreams” (Netflix) — Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar
Casting
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Nina Gold
“Nouvelle Vague” (Netflix) — Stéphane Batut
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Cassandra Kulukundis
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Francine Maisler ***
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) — Tiffany Little Canfield and Bernard Telsey
Animated Feature
“Arco” (Neon)
“Elio” (Pixar)
“KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix)
“Little Amélie or the Character of Rain” (GKids)
“Zootopia 2” (Walt Disney Pictures) ***
Production Design
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) ***
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Cinematography
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Train Dreams” (Netflix)
Costume Design
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures) ***
Film Editing
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“Hamnet” (Focus Features)
“Marty Supreme” (A24)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) ***
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
Makeup and Hairstyling
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) ***
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“The Smashing Machine” (A24)
“The Ugly Stepsister” (IFC)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Sound
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios)
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.) ***
“Frankenstein” (Netflix)
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Visual Effects
“Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios) ***
“F1” (Apple Original Films/Warner Bros.)
“The Fantastic Four: First Steps” (Marvel Studios)
“Superman” (Warner Bros.)
“Wicked: For Good” (Universal Pictures)
Original Score
“Frankenstein” (Netflix) — Alexandre Desplat
“Hamnet” (Focus Features) — Max Richter
“Hedda” (Amazon MGM Studios) — Hildur Guðnadóttir
“One Battle After Another” (Warner Bros.) — Jonny Greenwood
“Sinners” (Warner Bros.) — Ludwig Göransson ***
Original Song
“Dream as One” from “Avatar: Fire and Ash” (20th Century Studios)
“Dear Me” from “Diane Warren: Relentless” (Greenwich Entertainment)
“Golden” from “KPop Demon Hunters” (Netflix) ***
“I Lied to You” from “Sinners” (Warner Bros.)
“Clothed by the Sun” from “The Testament of Ann Lee” (Searchlight Pictures)
Documentary Feature
“Come See Me in the Good Light” (Apple Original Films)
“The Perfect Neighbor” (Netflix) ***
“The Librarians” (Independent Lens)
“The Tale of Silyan” (National Geographic Documentary Films)
“2000 Meters to Andriivka” (PBS)
International Feature
“It Was Just an Accident” from France (Neon)
“No Other Choice” (Neon)
“The Secret Agent” from Brazil (Neon)
“Sentimental Value” from Norway (Neon) ***
“The Voice of Hind Rajab” from Tunisia (Willa)
Top 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (films): “One Battle After Another” (14); “Sinners” (12); “Hamnet” (11); “Frankenstein” and “Wicked: For Good” (9); “Sentimental Value” (8)
Top 5 projected Oscar nomination leaders (studios): Warner Bros. (30); Netflix (17); Neon (16); Focus Features (12); Universal Pictures (9)
