The Oscar Narrative: Final Nomination Predictions - Best Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress

Best Supporting Actor

Kieran Culkin "A Real Pain" 

Yura Borisov "Anora"

Edward Norton "A Complete Unknown" 

Guy Pearce "The Brutalist"

Jeremy Strong "The Apprentice"

Other Contenders - Clarence Maclin "Sing Sing", Jonathan Bailey "Wicked", Denzel Washington "Gladiator II", Peter Saarsgard "September 5"

Commentary - A race with seven contenders that have SAG and BAFTA. Four crossed both award ceremonies: Culkin, Borisov, Norton, and Strong. The last slot could be interesting. SAG went for Jonathan Bailey, and BAFTA went for Guy Pearce and Clarence Maclin. I really hope that Maclin makes it into the final five, but I think the The Brutalist will be popular enough to bring Pearce his first Oscar nomination.

Best Supporting Actress

Jamie Lee Curtis "The Last Showgirl"

Ariana Grande "Wicked"

Felicity Jones "The Brutalist"

Isabella Rossellini "Conclave"

Zoe Saldana "Emilia Perez"

Other Contenders - Monica Barbaro "A Complete Unknown", Selena Gomez "Emilia Perez", Danielle Deadwyler "The Piano Lesson", Margaret Qualley "The Substance" 

Commentary - I feel like this category is what my grandmother used to call "A mell of a hess". To be honest, the only two I feel confident about are Zoe Saldana and Ariana Grande. Other than that, it really is a toss up for the last three slots between seven contenders. Jamie Lee Curtis is still not being predicted by a lot of folks, and I kind of get it. This feels like the contender that gets left off. But "afterglow nods" as they are called are real, she is a legend, she has been very public facing with the wildfire relief, and has been campaigning her heart out for this film. She is also the only one besides Grande and Saldana that got both BAFTA and SAG, showing support. I put her in. The last three slots are tricky. I think Danielle Deadwyler is going to miss again. SAG loves Netflix and her, but that film is dead in the water elsewhere. I really thought Margaret Qualley was in, but missing at SAG And BAFTA is not good, especially since Demi got in. She needs the film's popularity and a BP Nod to push her back into the race (kind of like Regina King a couple of years ago). Selena Gomez got BAFTA and Golden Globe, and could easily sneak in with the popularity of Emilia Perez. Monica Barbaro surprised at SAG, and the film is strong. I am (Currently) going with Felicity Jones. The Brutalist did well at BAFTA with the actors, and she is a previous nominee. In the final slot, despite a shocking SAG snub, I am going with Isabella Rossellini. He is a legend, her film is incredibly popular, and other than SAG, she hit every other mark.