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 Supporting Actor: Williem Dafoe
By Marco Cartolano
Sam Rockwell has been the favorite in this category, but his role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri has received backlash for humanizing a racist police officer. While it is not Rockwell’s fault that the Irish director and screenwriter, Martin McDonagh, doesn’t understand American racial politics, the Academy has the chance to award another seasoned character actor for playing a struggling white guy in Trump country without having to court as much controversy.