Gold Derby: Michael Shannon (’99 Homes’): From Indie Spirit Awards to Oscars?

Michael Shannon is coming on strong in this year’s Oscar race for Best Supporting Actor. He earned excellent reviews for “99 Homes,” in which he plays a corrupt real estate broker taking advantage of the housing crisis. And, as awards season gets underway, he’s already racked up two key nominations: Best Actor at the Gotham Awards (which combine lead and supporting performances), and Best Supporting Actor at the Spirit Awards.

This is Shannon’s second individual acting nomination at the Spirit Awards, following a Best Actor bid for his equally intense performance as a man seeing apocalyptic visions in “Take Shelter” (2011). He also shared in the Robert Altman Award in 2013 for “Mud.” And he is also already a Gotham Award-winner as a member of the ensemble of “Before the Devil Knows Your Dead” (2007).