Monday, Feb. 16, 2009
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Like Downey, Hoffman is an actor directors count on to give rapid, precise, cogent line readings that explain the plot and make it sound more intelligent than it is. All of which he does superbly. (See, or see again, his shabby secret agent in Charlie Wilson's War.) His third Oscar nomination in four years — he won for the 2005 Capote — cites what is really a lead performance: as the priest suspected of pederasty by Sister Mary Streep. Hoffman parades more charm than usual, but this is still the least fabulous of his recent turns. Maybe the Academy members had trouble spelling Synecdoche. (Odds of Winning: 20 to 1)