Michael Caine   Tom Cruise   Michael Clark Duncan   Jude Law   Haley Joel Osment

Best supporting actor

The nominees: Michael Caine, "The Cider House Rules"; Tom Cruise, "Magnolia"; Michael Clarke Duncan, "The Green Mile"; Jude Law, "The Talented Mr. Ripley"; and Haley Joel Osment, "The Sixth Sense."

Look out -- there could be trouble. The fact that a 10-year-old boy virtually stole a movie from one of the biggest stars in the world and turned it into a certifiable phenomenon says all that you need to know about Osment's remarkable gifts. His performance, in a word, was elegant.

But Cruise looms like the Supposedly Incredible Hulk. His arrogant, overpronounced histrionics in "Magnolia" are nearly unwatchable; he continually looks like his head is about to burst into flames. Like Angelina Jolie (who we'll be getting to), he shows off a lot more than he acts. Nowadays, that and a killer smile can take a performer to unimaginable heights. The rest of the nominees are respectable also-rans, with Law being the only conceivable dark horse. Let's say Osment will win, just to generate a positive vibe.

My vote: Haley Joel Osment. Cruise is very lucky that they didn't cast this kid in "Eyes Wide Shut."

Where are they? Cruise, Duncan, and Caine all could have been politely dismissed in favor of "Being John Malkovich"'s (admittedly typecast) John Malkovich, "Magnolia"'s John C. Reilly, or even Mark Wahlberg for his low-key turn in "Three Kings." Duncan and Caine are pretty mundane choices, all things considered. The problem is that all things are seldom considered by the voters. » Next category