Oscar Predictions: Best Supporting Actor

And the nominees are... WTOP Film Critic Jason Fraley breaks down the best supporting actor race. (YouTube/WTOP)
Barkhad Abdi - "Captain Phillips" (YouTube/WTOP)
Bradley Cooper - "American Hustle" (YouTube/WTOP)
Michael Fassbender - "12 Years a Slave" (YouTube/WTOP)
Jonah Hill - "The Wolf of Wall Street" (YouTube/WTOP)
Jared Leto - "Dallas Buyers Club" (YouTube/WTOP)
Predictions
Should Win: Barkhad Abdi

If I were voting, I would go with Barkhad Abdi for "Captain Phillips." Abdi could have been a cookie cutter, xenophobic boogeyman, but instead turned his Somali pirate into a sympathetic figure of desperation fueled by globalization. And who doesn't love Abdi's rise from limo driver to Oscar contender?

Could Win: Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender channeled Ralph Fiennes in "Schindler's List" to create a terrifying villain in "12 Years a Slave," leaning on his slaves' heads like fence posts. If "12 Years" goes on a run, you could see Fassbender ride the wave.

Will Win: Jared Leto

Jared Leto is practically a lock for his cross-dressing role in "Dallas Buyers Club." Leto was great years ago in "Requiem for a Dream," but took a hiatus from acting to pursue music. Expect Oscar night to be a triumphant return for Leto.(YouTube/WTOP)
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