As August comes to a close, the state of the Oscar race remains very much in flux. The awards season itself is still to be determined, given the COVID-19 pandemic that’s still causing havoc in the United States, so what becomes of the Academy Awards is very much a question mark. However, there almost certainly will be a ceremony, so there will be nominees and winners, coronavirus be damned. So, we press on with predictions. However, given how light the fall film festival season is looking to be, it’s going to be harder to determine with movies and performances are true players. The precursors will have to do that for us. As such, the films and individuals listed below haven’t changed much, at least this time around. However, the potential for a lot of change is definitely there, so keep that in mind. Here are some new predictions to pour over: BEST PICTURE 1. The Trial of the Chicago 7 2. Mank 3. News of the World 4. Nomadland 5. Da 5 Bloods 6. Ammonite 7. West Side Story 8. C’mon C’mon 9. Stillwater 10. Never Rarely Sometimes Always Next in Line: 11. Judas and the Black Messiah 12. Hillbilly Elegy 14. On the Rocks 15. Those Who Wish Me Dead 15. Minari 16. The White Tiger 17. The Eyes of Tammy Faye 18. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 19. Tenet 20. i’m thinking of ending things 21. Promising Young Woman 22. The Outpost 23. One Night in Miami 24. The Father 25. Respect 26. Happiest Season 27. Dune 28. First Cow 29. Mulan 30. Soul BEST DIRECTOR 1. David Fincher – Mank 2. Spike Lee – Da 5 Bloods 3. Chloe Zhao – Nomadland 4. Paul Greengrass – News of the World 5. Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7 Next in Line: 6. Francis Lee – Ammonite 7. Steven Spielberg – West Side Story 8. Christopher Nolan – Tenet 9. Mike Mills – C’mon C’mon 10. Tom McCarthy – Stillwater BEST ACTOR 1. Anthony Hopkins – The Father 2. Matt Damon – Stillwater 3. Gary Oldman – Mank 4. Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon 5. Tom Hanks – News of the World Next in Line: 6. Bill Murray – On the Rocks 7. Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah (Could Go Supporting) 8. Ben Affleck – The Way Back 9. Andrew Garfield – The Eyes […]