BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Tom Hanks – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes

Joe Pesci – The Irishman

Al Pacino – The Irishman

This race is absolutely stuffed. Every nominee is a legitimate titan in the industry, so it’s difficult to pick someone on name value alone. That being said, Brad Pitt has emerged as a strong frontrunner, picking up nominations and wins in a number of other award shows. Expect him to win his first academy award for acting.

My Pick: Brad Pitt

Will Win: Brad Pitt

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Scarlett Johansson – Jojo Rabbit

Laura Dern – Marriage Story

Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell

Florence Pugh – Little Women

Margot Robbie – Bombshell

Laura Dern has this in the bag. It’s nice to see Florence Pugh get a nomination after several great  performances this year, but Laura Dern’s work in “Marriage Story” is truly fantastic, and it deserves all of the recognition it has been getting. Her ability to shift tones and attitudes from scene to scene is realistic in a way that most actors can’t match.

My Pick: Laura Dern

Will Win: Laura Dern

BEST ACTRESS

Scarlett Johansson – Marriage Story

Cynthia Erivo – Harriet

Saoirse Ronan – Little Women

Charlize Theron – Bombshell

Reneé Zellweger – Judy

My biggest issue with this category is easily the absence of Awkwafina for “The Farewell.” It was easily one of my favorite movies and favorite performances of the year, and I’m sad to see the movie slip under the Academy’s radar. That being said, Renee Zellweger and Scarlett Johansson provided some of the year’s best acting in any category.

My Pick: Scarlett Johansson

Will Win: Renee Zellweger

BEST DIRECTOR

Martin Scorsese – The Irishman

Bong Joon-ho – Parasite

Todd Phillips – Joker

Sam Mendes – 1917

Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

There were no women nominated, which is extremely disheartening. This story has been getting tons of coverage in the media, and all of it is deserved. At the very least, Greta Gerwig should have been recognized for “Little Women,” but instead we are given Todd Phillips for “Joker.” Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell” was also criminally underrepresented in the nominations, and she would’ve been another solid pick for this category.

My Pick: Bong Joon-ho

Will Win: Quentin Tarantino

BEST ACTOR

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

Leonardo DiCaprio – Once Upon a Time…   

in Hollywood

Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory

Adam Driver – Marriage Story

Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes

Joaquin Phoenix likely has this award locked up. He picked up wins at the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, which are two very important predictors of this particular Oscar. And he deserves it for a really transformative performance in “Joker.” That said, Adam Driver’s work in “Marriage Story” has been consistently praised by critics, and could emerge as a sleeper pick if Phoenix falls short.

My Pick: Adam Driver

Will Win: Joaquin Phoenix

BEST PICTURE

1917, Parasite, Marriage Story, Joker

Ford v Ferrari

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

The Irishman

Little Women

Jojo Rabbit

For the most part, every picture here was expected, but there are a few exceptions. “Ford v Ferrari” is definitely a questionable pick, and I am personally not a huge fan of “Joker” as a film, particularly when movies like “The Farewell” and “Uncut Gems” didn’t make the cut. Interestingly, “Parasite” might have a legitimate shot at the award, which would be a huge step for international films being recognized domestically.

My Pick: Marriage Story

Will Win: 1917