Christoph Waltz in Django Unchained
Best Supporting Actor is perhaps the most wide open category at the Oscars this year with Alan Arkin, Robert De Niro, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Tommy Lee Jones and Christoph Waltz all in with a serious chance of winning.
All five of the nominees have won Oscars before and all of the performances have been heavily praised and been awarded with gongs.
Christoph Waltz - Django Unchained
It was at the eighty second Oscars that Waltz picked up his first Oscar in this very category as he teamed up with Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds.
His second collaboration with the director has resulted in another Oscar nod, and he is in with a real shout of winning for a second time.
Django Unchained sees Waltz deliver another flamboyant performance and he really shines in the role of Dr King Schultz.
The award's season has been another very successful one for Waltz as he has already picked up a Bafta and Golden Globe for his performance - as well as a string of critics awards.
In terms of major gongs it does seem that Waltz does just edge it... but will he taste Oscar success again?
Tommy Lee Jones - Lincoln
Tommy Lee Jones is another recipient of this award as he picked up the Best Supporting Actor gong for his role in The Fugitive.
He takes on the role of Thaddeus Stevens in Steven Spielberg's biopic Lincoln in what is a very powerful performance from the actor.
Lincoln is a movie that was winning over the critics left, right and centre before Christmas but it has not dominated the award's circuit as many expected it to do - except for Daniel Day Lewis.
And while the movie has perhaps not won as much as many expected Jones has not done too bad - the Screen Actors Guild Award being his big win.
Robert De Niro - Silver Linings Playbook
Robert De Niro has a Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor gong under his belt and now he finds himself in the running again.
He takes on the role of Pat Solitano, Sr. in Silver Linings Playbook in what is a funny and emotional performance.
Many critics are tipping De Niro to take the gong as Silver Linings Playbook does seem to be popular with Academy voters.
De Niro has picked up gongs at the Hollywood Film Festival Awards and Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards as well as nominations at the Screen Actors Guild Awards and Gotham Awards.
The Best Supporting Actor category is a very exciting on as you have Waltz, Jones and Hoffman who have been picking up gongs while De Niro and Arkin are starring in movies that seems to be winning over critics and the Academy.
The winners will be announced Sunday 24th February.
Tagged in Robert De Niro Tommy Lee Jones Christoph Waltz