Original Score
“BlacKkKlansman”
“First Man”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
Lowdown: Ludwig Göransson’s “Black Panther” score could also be recognized, but something tells us Terence Blanchard finally gets that first nod for his work on “BlacKkKlansman.”
Original Music
“All The Stars” from “Black Panther”
“Girl In The Movies” from “Dumplin’”
“I’ll Fight” from “RBG”
“Trip A Little Light Fantastic” from “Mary Poppins Returns”
“Shallow” from “A Star Is Born”
Lowdown: More than any other year in recent memory, outside of “Shallow” and “All the Stars” this category is a “pick ’em.” There’s no guarantee that even a track from “Mary Poppins Returns” will make the cut.
Visual Effects
“Avengers: Infinity War”
“Black Panther”
“First Man”
“Ready Player One”
“Solo: A Star Wars Story”
Lowdown: “Black Panther” earned a complete snub from the Visual Effects society, but was recognized by BAFTA so we’re sticking with it. If “Panther,” “Ready Player One” or “Solo: A Star Wars Story” don’t make it, look for “Christopher Robin” to take that final slot.
Documentary
“Free Solo”
“Hale County This Morning, This Evening”
“Minding the Gap”
“RBG”
“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”
Lowdown: “RBG” and “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” may not be as universally critically acclaimed by documentary watchers as say, “Minding the Gap” or “Hale County,” but something tells us the Documentary Branch wants to reward at least two of the three big summer art-house hits (the third being “Three Identical Strangers”).
Production Design
“Black Panther”
“The Favourite”
“First Man”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Roma”
Lowdown: This should be the five. “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald” has worthy production design, but there’s such a stink on that movie we simply don’t think the Academy will recognize the franchise this year.
Makeup and Hairstyling
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Border”
“Vice”
Lowdown: “Bohemian Rhapsody” is likely the only safe bet. The other shortlisted films, “Black Panther,” “Mary Queen of Scots,” “Stan & Olie” and “Suspiria,” wouldn’t surprise if they were part of the trio (and proves this category should expand to five nominees a year).
Sound Editing
“A Star is Born”
“A Quiet Place”
“Black Panther”
“First Man”
“Roma”
Lowdown: “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” and “Avengers: Infinity War” could crash this party.
Sound Mixing
“A Star is Born”
“A Quiet Place”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma”
Lowdown: We’re pretty sure this is the field, but “Black Panther” may knock somebody out.
Editing
“A Star is Born”
“The Favourite”
“First Man”
“Roma”
“Vice”
Lowdown: This is absolutely one of the toughest categories to determine. “A Star is Born” didn’t land a BAFTA nod with “Bohemian Rhapsody” earning a nomination instead, but its believed AMPAS universally loves that movie more than the Brits do. “Bohemian” could crash here too though and likely knock out “The Favourite.” Then again, “Green Book” and “BlacKkKlansman” could make the cut as well. Ponder.
Foreign Language Film
“Burning” (South Korea)
“Capernaum” (Lebanon)
“Cold War” (Poland)
“Roma” (Mexico)
“Shoplifters” (Japan)
Lowdown: “Roma” and “Cold War” are in. “Capernaum” is, also, likely in. The question then is if the voters will honor two Asian films or whether Germany’s “Never Look Away” or Denmark’s “The Guilty” round out the field knocking out critical favorite “Burning” or Palme d’Or winner “Shoplifters.”
Best Director
Bradley Cooper, “A Star is Born”
Alfonso Cuaron, “Roma”
Spike Lee, “BlacKkKlansman”
Adam McKay, “Vice”
Paweł Pawlikowski, “Cold War”
Lowdown: Alfonso Cuaron, Bradley Cooper and Spike Lee should make the cut. The guild honors have consistently rewarded “Vice” so that tells us Adam McKay will once again duplicate his DGA nod as he did with “The Big Short” (which many people didn’t think was happening at the time). The fifth nomination is just nuts with “Black Panther’s” Ryan Coogler, “If Beale Street Could Talk’s” Barry Jenkins, “First Man’s” Damien Chazelle and “Green Book’s” Peter Farrelly in the mix. There is always almost one DGA nod that doesn’t earn an Oscar nom and this year we think it’s Farrelly. There has also been a ton of buzz about Pawel Pawlikowski from filmmakers in the Directors Branch so we’re placing our bets the Cannes winner sneaks in.
Best Picture
“A Star is Born”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Roma”
“Vice”
Lowdown: We’re slightly concerned there may only be eight nominees this year. The membership has increased enough that at least 4-500 first-place votes are needed to guarantee a nod (if you were unaware, the mathematical formula the Academy uses for voting almost ensures there won’t be 10). “If Beale Street Could Talk” has been ignored by three of the larger guilds, the DGA, SAG and the PGA (Barry Jenkins did earn a WGA nod). We are hopeful it pulls through like “Phantom Thread” last year, but aver very concerned it will be snubbed. “A Quiet Place” and “Mary Poppins Returns” are likely both on the outside looking in, but surprises happen. And, yes, that means a “Crazy Rich Asians” nod isn’t out of the question.
The 91st Academy Award nominations will be announced beginning at 5:20 AM PT, 8:20 AM ET.
The 91st Academy Awards telecast will air on ABC on Feb. 24 at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET.