A year ago, Youn Yuh-jung was a presumed frontrunner or the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. The “Minari” star eventually took the honor after dominating the precursor awards. 2022 is shaping up to be a significantly different beast, with only four likely nominees so far, “Belfast’s” Caitriona Balfe, “The Power of the Dog’s” Kirsten Dunst, “West Side Story’s” Ariana DeBose, and “King Richard’s” Aunjanue Ellis, and no clear winner. The last slot? Well…
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There is a ton of hype around Rita Moreno for “West Side Story,” but we’re not sure we believe it (yet). Instead, we think “Mass” standout Ann Dowd will earn her first nomination. And if not her, then “CODA’s” Marlee Matlin, “Passing’s” Ruth Negga, “The Lost Daughter’s” Jessie Buckley, or “The Tragedy of Macbeth’s” Kathryn Hunter could slide in. [Updated Jan 2]
Likely
Ariana Debose, “West Side Story”
Caitriona Balfe, “Belfast”
Kirsten Dunst, “The Power of the Dog”
Aunjanue Ellis, “King Richard”
Ann Dowd, “Mass”
In The Mix
Rita Moreno, “West Side Story”
Kathryn Hunter, “The Tragedy of Macbeth”
Marlee Matlin, “CODA”
Judi Dench, “Belfast”
Ruth Negga, “Passing”
Jessie Buckley, “The Lost Daughter”
Gabby Hoffman, “C’Mon C’Mon”
Jayne Houdyshell, “The Humans”
Meryl Streep, “Don’t Look Up”
Cate Blanchett, “Nightmare Alley”
2022 Contenders and Predictions
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor
Best Actress
Best Supporting Actor
Best Supporting Actress
Original Screenplay
Adapted Screenplay
International Film