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

Best Actor
Antonio Banderas "Pain & Glory"
Leonardo DiCaprio "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"
Adam Driver "Marriage Story"
Taron Egerton "Rocketman"
Joaquin Phoenix "Joker"

Other Contenders - Christian Bale "Ford v. Ferrari", Eddie Murphy "Dolemite is My Name", Jonathan Pryce "The Two Popes", Robert DeNiro "The Irishman", Adam Sandler "Uncut Gems"

Commentary - So four guys have hit SAG, BAFTA, and Globe: Driver, DiCaprio, Phoenix, and they were joined by Egerton who also won the Globe, along with Phoenix. I think these guys are going to earn Oscar nods as well. That fifth slot though is a hot mess. BAFTA went for Jonathan Pryce, SAG went for Bale, and the Globes threw in Eddie Murphy. Also, while neither is tearing up the circuit, I still think that Robert DeNiro and Adam Sandler will have people voting for them. So what to do? I am going out on a limb. Last year, we really saw how the influx of international Oscar voters changed the race. Not just Roma, but across the board, you saw more foreign language films get nominations. Antonio Banderas did get a Globe and Critics Choice nod, is a beloved veteran with no nomination to date, and for my money, gives the best performance of the bunch. I am banking on a surprise nomination come tomorrow morning.

Best Actress
Scarlett Johansson "Marriage Story"
Lupita Nyong'o "Us"
Saoirse Ronan "Little Women"
Charlize Theron "Bombshell"
Renee Zellweger "Judy"

Other Contenders - Cynthia Erivo "Harriet", Awkwafina "The Farewell", Jessie Buckley "Wild Rose"

Commentary - Johansson, Theron, and Zellweger are locked and loaded. With Little Women doing better in the second half of guild voting, I feel like Oscar favorite Saoirse Ronan is in. I feel like the Jessie Buckley BAFTA nod is a British-specific thing that will not cross over to the Oscars. This means that either Awkwafina, Cynthia Erivo, or Lupita Nyong'o will probably take the slot, which will keep the Oscars from the same racial controversy that BAFTA is facing right now. Awkwafina won the Globe, and her funny and emotional speech puts her back in the race after missing at SAG and BAFTA. Cynthia Erivo got SAG, but missed at BAFTA, which is kind of surprising considering the buzz for the film, and that she is a big theater star in London. I am going with Lupita Nyong'o. She is a previous winner, and her performance is jaw-dropping in Us. I think actors will recognize that difficulty and ultimately give her the last slot.

Best Supporting Actor
Tom Hanks "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood"
Song Kang Ho "Parasite"
Al Pacino "The Irishman"
Joe Pesci "The Irishman"
Brad Pitt "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood"

Other Contenders - Anthony Hopkins "The Two Popes", Jamie Foxx "Just Mercy", Willem Dafoe "The Lighthouse"

Commentary - Once again, I feel like there is a fifth slot up for grabs. Hanks, Pacino, Pesci, and Pitt have all hit all of the major precursors, so its hard to bet against them. Hopkins got the Globe and BAFTA, Foxx got the SAG, and Dafoe is a threat after he scored a surprise nod last year. Once again, I think all of those splits leaves us with a surprise nominee. Parasite is so well-liked this year, and the ensemble is the best part of the film. I think that Song Kang Ho, who is one of the standouts, will surprise.

Best Supporting Actress
Laura Dern "Marriage Story"
Scarlett Johansson "Jojo Rabbit"
Jennifer Lopez "Hustlers"
Florence Pugh "Little Women"
Margot Robbie "Bombshell"

Other Contenders - Zhao Shuzhen "The Farewell", Nicole Kidman "Bombshell", Lee Jung Eun "Parasite", Annette Bening "The Report", Margot Robbie "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood", Kathy Bates "Richard Jewell"

Commentary - The Oscars do not allow double dipping like BAFTA, so you know Robbie is only getting in for one film. I'm sticking with Bombshell, cause its the bigger role of the two. Dern and Johansson hit all the marks across the board. Jennifer Lopez did not get in at BAFTA, but I think over here, she is the fifth slot. That means that the fourth slot is Florence Pugh. As Little Women finally starts to pick up a bit of momentum, her performance, which is a standout, is rising to the top of the list. Also watch out for Zhao Shuzhen (who should be in this race), Kidman (SAG0, Lee Jung Eun (Parasite love), Bening (Globes), and Bates (Globes).