Oscars 2022: Best Supporting Actor Predictions

This year’s Supporting Actor field includes a veteran Oscar-winner going up against a batch of newbies. That may or may not prove an advantage, as all the first-time nominees are featured players in Best Picture contenders, while J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash’) stars in Aaron Sorkin’s delightful “Being the Ricardos” (Amazon), which landed a PGA nomination but missed the Best Picture cut. Clearly the Academy actors appreciated this surprising look behind the scenes during one intense week of the “I Love Lucy” TV show. Simmons seems born to play curmudgeon William Frawley, who despite his penchant for day-drinking, delivers his jokes on cue opposite Lucille Ball (nominated Nicole Kidman) and Desi Arnaz (nominated Javier Bardem).Seeking their first Oscar acting mentions: Critics Choice and BAFTA nominees Kodi Smit-McPhee and Jesse Plemons both landed nominations for their roles in Jane Campion’s festival hit “The Power of the Dog” (Netflix). Smit-McPhee plays Peter,...