Willem Dafoe is the moral center of The Florida Project. His character, Bobby, manages a motel in Kissimmee, Florida, where he looks after the impoverished residents. While Dafoe must be stern when dealing with misbehavior, he also gives his character a soft center, which is usually on display whenever he interacts with the many children who live in his motel. His signature scene comes when a strange man approaches the children, forcing Dafoe to get rid of him. That scene displays both his character's steeliness in the face of a threat and his concern for the people who live in his motel. The Florida Project, a film that captures the humanity of people on the fringes on society, deserved more Oscar nominations than just best supporting actor, and awarding Dafoe for the paternal decency he emanates is the least the Oscars could do.
Best Lead Actress: Frances McDormand
By Jordan Moreau
After winning the Golden Globes' and Screen Actors Guild's highest awards for best actress in a leading role, Frances McDormand seems like the most likely candidate for the Oscar, and deservedly so. Her performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri shows such a wide range of emotion and is the foundation for the film's heavy story.