It might not happen at the Oscars, but Richard E. Grant will get to give a televised speech this weekend — at the Independent Spirit Awards. Per our predictions, the “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” star is the runaway favorite to take home the Best Supporting Actor prize in a Mahershala Ali-less field on Saturday.
Grant has 31/10 odds to prevail over Adam Driver (“BlacKkKlansman”), Josh Hamilton (“Eighth Grade”), Raul Castillo (“We the Animals”) and John David Washington (“Monsters and Men”). Driver is the only other Oscar nominee in this category.
The critical favorite, Grant started off the season strong with his scene-stealing turn as Melissa McCarthy‘s ne’er-do-well pal Jack Hock, and it felt like he could become the Oscar favorite in the early goings. But Ali (“Green Book”) emerged as the one to beat once the televised awards started, claiming the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice, Screen Actors Guild and BAFTA Award. The BAFTA on Grant’s home turf of England might have been the toughest pill to swallow. “Green Book” is not eligible at the Spirits, so this would be a nice little consolation prize for Grant.
If you ask Grant, who’s in second in our Oscar odds, he’d likely tell you this entire season has been one big win. The 61-year-old character actor has been drinking in every second of his better-late-than-never moment, documenting his excitement on social media, trekking from this event to that, talking to everyone who wants a second with him, taking blurry selfies with stars, and finally getting a Twitter reply from his all-time fave Barbra Streisand for a letter he wrote her when he was 14 (highly recommend following Grant on Twitter and Instagram). His unabashed, genuine giddiness is a breath of fresh air in a sea of jaded cynics who often try to act like this is all too cool for school.
In other words, Grant will probably give one helluva speech on Saturday.
PREDICT the Independent Spirit Awards now; change them until Feb. 23
Be sure to make your Indie Spirit predictions so that Hollywood studio executives and top name stars can see how their films are faring in our odds. Don’t be afraid to jump in now since you can keep changing your predictions until just before winners are announced on Feb. 23. And join in the fierce debate over the 2019 Spirit Awards taking place right now with Hollywood insiders in our film forums. Read more Gold Derby entertainment news.
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