Best Supporting Actor 2004: Results

5. Jamie Foxx in Collateral- Foxx gives a functional performance some of the time, but he also fails to capitalize any scene that requires more from him.

4. Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby- Freeman gives a painfully standard performance, that although it is not bad it always feels uninspired.

3. Alan Alda in The Aviator- Alda has very little to do but still his performance is effective as he shows both the charm and the cruelty of a career politician.

2. Clive Owen in Closer- Owen although has strong elements particularly in portraying the harsh bluntness of his character, but also lacks in terms of his onscreen relationships with his female co-stars.

1. Thomas Haden Church in Sideways- A very easy win for Church who easily gives the best performance of the five through his great achievement of finding a way to make what technically should be just a despicable character, a endearing one instead.

Deserving Performances:
David Carradine in Kill Bill Vol 2
Michael Madsen in Kill Bill Vol 2

Best Supporting Actor 2004: Alan Alda in The Aviator

Alan Alda received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Senator Owen Brewster in The Aviator.

Senator Owen Brewster acts a basically a tool against Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) to be used by his International airwaves rival Juan Trippe (Alex Baldwin). This is a little bit of a head scratcher of a nomination simply because Brewster does very little, and only has a few scenes in total. He first tries to prod Hughes to see things his way through a blackmail of sorts, but than after Hughes refuses he attacks Hughes by publicly calling him a war profiteer and holding a Senate hearing to investigate and attack Hughes.

Although his part is very limited Alda actually is pretty much exactly as he should be. He really is a hatchet man used by Trippe for Hughes, but he does it all in a traditional sort of politician smile. Alda has that smile and has the right dynamic between being that friend of everyone politician face along with a more sinsiter quality in his eyes for when he needs to do what he must. Alda is fine in showing that Brewster is putting on always a bit of act that allows him to be a senator.

Past just the whole idea of who Brewster is Alda does not do all that much in the part, since we don't really know much about Brewster other than that he is against Hughes and for Trippe. There is never a moment that he is anymore than a typical poor sort of politician. Alda is never bad in the role, and is exactly as he should. Is it anything that needed to be awarded, no, is it very memorable, no, but it is technically a descent performance nonetheless.

Best Supporting Actor 2004

And the Nominees Were:

Alan Alda in The Aviator

Thomas Haden Church in Sideways

Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby

Clive Owen in Closer

Jamie Foxx in Collateral