AS WITH THE ELECTION PRIMARIES, with the Academy Awards a lot of people pay attention to who has been “hot” with the earlier voters. Unfortunately, that can make for a boring show. For example, Best film, actress, actor, supporting actor and actress, and Best director are already strong favorites. With that in mind, for the major categories at least, identifying possible upsets will make the awards more exciting or give you a chance at winning the pool.

So, here goes.

Best Film

1917 but Parasite a serious upset chance.

Best Actress

Renee Z in Judy has won and won and won. Maybe Charlize Theron of Bombshell a longshot to play spoiler?

Best Actor

Joaquin Phoenix has been scooping up the awards for Joker. A shock would come from Antonio Banderas for Pain and Glory or Jonathan Price for Two Popes.

Best Supporting Actor

Brad Pitt has been killing the early awards for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Tom Hanks or Anthony Hopkins are the only possible upsets for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood and Two Popes respectively.

Best Supporting Actress

Laura Dern has won most of the early awards for Marriage Story. Deserving upsets could only be Margot Robbie for Bombshell or Kathy Bates for her work in Richard Jewell.

Best Director

Sam Mendes has been dominating this award for 1917. I think the upset might be Bong Joon-Ho for Parasite.

Best Original Screenplay

is most likely to be either Quentin Tarantino (O.U.T.I.H) or Bong Joon Ho (Parasite).

Production Design

This likely goes to 1917 

Original Score

has gone consistently to Joker.

Cinematography

probably goes to 1917.

The films with the most awards will be  Parasite and 1917

Enjoy!!

WRH