Final Oscar Predictions:
Best Picture
*the only five movies who can win BP, stats wise*
1. The Power of the Dog
2. Dune
3. Belfast
4. Licorice Pizza
5. West Side Story
*good for nomination, but can't win stats-wise*
6. King Richard
7. Don't Look Up
8. CODA
*two flexible slots up for grabs. I'm going with:
9. tick, tick...Boom!
10. Being the Ricardos
Alternates who could claim one or both of the last two slots: Drive My Car, Nightmare Alley, House of Gucci
Best Director
1. Jane Campion, The Power of the Dog
2. Denis Villenueve, Dune
3. Paul Thomas Anderson, Licorice Pizza
4. Kenneth Branagh, Belfast
5. Steven Spielberg, West Side story
alt: Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Drive My Car (I actually think he takes out Spielberg, I just love WSS too much for me to drop him)
Lead Actress
1. Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos
2. Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
3. Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
4. Jessica Chastain, Eyes of Tammy Faye
5. Rachel Zegler, West Side Story
alternates: Jennifer Hudson, Respect (I actually know several SAG voters who chose her to win); Alana Haim, Licorice Pizza; Penelope Cruz, Parallel Mothers; Kristin Stewart, Spencer (this category is NUTS. Prob wrong about Zegler and may switch to Haim or Hudson last second)
Lead Actor
1. Will Smith, King Richard
2. Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
3. Andrew Garfield, tick tick...Boom!
4. Denzel Washington, Tragedy of Macbeth
5. Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
alts: (5th slot is very shaky) Peter Dinklage, Cyrano; Bradley Cooper, Nightmare Alley
Supporting Actress
1. Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
2. Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
3. Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
4. Aunjanue Ellis, King Richard
5. Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley
alt: Ruth Negga, Passing; Marlee Matlin, CODA
Supporting Actor
1. Kodi Smitt-McPhee, The Power of the Dog
2. Troy Kotsur, CODA
3. Ciaran Hinds, Belfast
4. Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza
5. Jared Leto, House of Gucci
alts: (despite Leto's Razzie nom today I also know several SAG actors who voted for him...choices. In any case, slot 5 is a mystery to me and no one I put there feels right) Jamie Dornan, Belfast; Jesse Plemons, Power of the Dog; Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
I think Dune will have the most nominations by a mile, and ultimately walk away with the most wins on Oscar night. But mostly below-the-line. The Power of the Dog seems unchallenged for BP after WSS staggered in the industry portion of the race and Belfast has yet to win a meaningful BP precursor prize. Unless Licorice Pizza has a meteoric rise, its Dog's to lose. Truly bizarre that Netflix looks like they will finally win this year, in a year when the industry has bemoaned the death of movie theaters more than anything.
West Side Story shockingly missed with both the editing guild and cinematographer guild. That sadly puts a major damper on its BP chances. Historically, a movie needs a nomination from DGA to actually win BP at the Oscars. Their nominees were Power of the Dog, Belfast, Licorice Pizza, Dune, West Side Story. So one of those 5 is your ultimate winner.