Here in the middle of July, one has the sense that the Oscars are a lifetime away. They may or may not be, depending on how the industry deals with the continuation of the Coronavirus pandemic, but if COVID-19 doesn’t have a say, we’re going to have an Academy Award ceremony next year. As such, predictions need to be updated, even if so much is in flux, still. So, as usual, take what you’ll see below with a huge grain of salt. Regardless, a snapshot in the middle of the year is worth something. The films and performances are still to be determined, but what you’ll find on my predictions are a variety of titles that could easily contend for love this upcoming season. Make of that what you will… Here now is an updated look at my Academy Award predictions: BEST PICTURE 1. Da 5 Bloods 2. The Trial of the Chicago 7 3. News of the World 4. Mank 5. West Side Story 6. Nomadland 7. C’mon C’mon 8. Ammonite 9. Stillwater 10. Never Rarely Sometimes Always Next in Line: 11. The White Tiger 12. The French Dispatch 13. 14. I’m Thinking of Ending Things 15. Tenet 16. Promising Young Woman 17. The Last Duel 18. The Eyes of Tammy Faye 19. On the Rocks 20. Hillbilly Elegy 21. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom 22. Dune 23. Those Who Wish Me Dead 24. Next Goal Wins 25. The King of Staten Island 26. Respect 27. Minari 28. Soul 29. The Way Back 30. The Invisible Man 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. Steven Spielberg – West Side Story 7. Mike Mills – C’mon C’mon 8. Christopher Nolan – Tenet 9. Tom McCarthy – Stillwater 10. Ridley Scott – The Last Duel BEST ACTOR 1. Tom Hanks – News of the World 2. Matt Damon – Stillwater (or The Last Duel) 3. Gary Oldman – Mank 4. Joaquin Phoenix – C’mon C’mon 5. Ben Affleck – The Way Back Next in Line: 6. Bill Murray – On the Rocks 7. Anthony Hopkins – The Father 8. Adam Driver – The Last Duel 9. Andrew Garfield – The Eyes of Tammy Faye 10. Michael Fassbender – […]