Ensemble in a Comedy
Birds of Prey
Like its predecessor Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey has an enormous cast of characters who have graced the pages of DC Comics over the past decades. But that’s where its similarities end. For one, Birds of Prey is actually good. It’s a candy-colored blast that, unlike the majority of its brethren in the DCEU, gives its characters actual definition. Margot Robbie was the only good part of David Ayer’s misbegotten adaptation, and putting her in the lead of her own movie was a no-brainer. But she’s not the only one living it up here. Rosie Perez is terrific as usual as one of the few less dirty cops in Gotham, and Mary Elizabeth Winstead brings deadpan sexiness as the Huntress. But it’s Ewan McGregor who steals the show as the vain and violent Black Mask.
Actor in a Comedy
Jean Dujardin, Deerskin
When I first saw the trailer for the latest bit of absurdity from Quentin Dupieux, I thought one of our most dashing Oscar winners was too good for this nonsense. After seeing the film, it’s clear no one else could have pulled it off. Georges experiences a mid-life crisis and pays entirely too much for a deerskin jacket. Suddenly renewed, and with a camera the seller threw in at no charge, he recasts himself as a filmmaker with a penchant for extreme cinema. As his appetite for tacky luxury fashion grows, so does his urge to kill. It’s a wild 77-minute ride that only works because Dujardin makes it believable.
Actress in a Comedy
Cristin Milioti, Palm Springs
The summer’s most pleasant surprise threw everyone for a loop, pun intended. Andy Samberg is his usual charming self, but Milioti was a revelation, playing the sister of the bride, She’s tired of her humdrum life and guilt-ridden over her terrible secret. She’s the emotional anchor of the film, and the reason it was more than just a fun diversion.
Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Bill Burr, The King of Staten Island
There’s a case to be made that this is Judd Apatow’s finest film as a director. At a minimum, it’s his most mature work to date. While Pete Davidson does surprisingly earnest work as the lead of the film, the supporting cast steals it from him regularly: Bel Powley as his on-again/off-again girlfriend Kelsey; Marisa Tomei as his long-suffering mother Margie; and especially Bill Burr as Ray, a fireman with a short fuse and genuine love for Margie. Burr has recently become one of the most popular comedians in the world for his no-fucks-given observations about changing times, but between this and his guest spots on The Mandalorian, he’s become one of our best character actors too.
Supporting Actress in a Comedy
Maria Bakalova, Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
This was the first time 99.99% of people had seen Bakalova on-screen before, and what a jaw-dropping international debut. As Tutar, the daughter of disgraced correspondent Borat, she is every bit as fearless and funny as Sacha Baron Cohen. Because he’s too famous to do a lot of the shtick he made his name on, it was an enormous risk to hand over the reins to her for much of the film, but it paid off big time.
