By John H. Foote

Before the Golden Globes weighed in with their annual hardware fest later on January 6, I decided to jump the gun and list my predictions for this year’s Oscar nominations early, two and a half weeks early. Sure, I could have waited for the results of the Globe ceremony, the SAG winners and the DGA nominees, but why not be gutsy and make my calls now, before those other awards could have any influence over the nominees.

I went out on a limb in a few categories, but otherwise I think I am pretty much spot on.

We will see January 22 at dawn when the Academy Award Nominations are announced, beginning the countdown to the movie worlds’ biggest night of the year.

Likely snubs include Mary Poppins Returns and the years best film First Man for Best Picture, while Nicole Kidman will be left out for career best work in Destroyer. Ryan Gosling portrayed Neil Armstrong beautifully, but will not likely be nominated for career best work. And there will be more snubs that will provide much to write about. Expect one jaw dropping exclusion, Bradley Cooper for Best Actor or Director, or even sure thing Lady Gaga, because nothing is a sure thing we have learned.

So, way out on a limb, here are the films and people I believe will be nominated for Academy Awards. Not who I think SHOULD be nominated but who I believe, for better or worse, will.

BEST SONG

Shallow (A Star is Born)

All the Stars (Black Panther)

Tripping the Light Fantastic (Mary Poppins Returns)

The Place Where Lost Things Go (Mary Poppins Returns)

We Won’t Move (The Hate U Give)

BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN

The Favourite

First Man

Mary Poppins Returns

Black Panther

Mary, Queen of Scots

BEST MUSICAL SCORE

First Man

Black Panther

Mary Poppins Returns

Isle of Dogs

A Quiet Place

BEST MAKE-UP/ HAIRSTYLING

Vice

Stan and Ollie

Mary, Queen of Scots

BEST SOUND

A Star is Born

First Man

Black Panther

A Quiet Place

Mary Poppins Returns

BEST SOUND EDITING

First Man

A Star is Born

A Quiet Place

Black Panther

Bohemian Rhapsody

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

First Man

Mary Poppins Returns

Black Panther

Ready Player One

Avengers: Infinity War

BEST FOREING LANGUAGE FILM

Cold War (Poland)

Roma (Mexico)

Burning (South Korea)

Shoplifters (Japan)

Capernaum (Lebanon)

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

RBG

Won’t You Be My Neighbour?

Free Solo

Three Identical Strangers

Minding the Gap

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Incredibles 2

Isle of Dogs

Spider-Man: Into The Spide-Vverse

Mirai

Ralph Breaks the Internet

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

The Favourite

Mary Poppins Returns

Mary, Queen of Scots

Crazy Rich Asians

Black Panther

BEST FILM EDITING

Black Panther

First Man

Green Book

A Star is Born

The Favourite

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Roma

Black Panther

First Man

A Star is Born

Cold War

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Green Book

The Favourite

Roma

Vice

First Reformed

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

BlacKkKlansman

A Star is Born

First Man

If Beale Street Could Talk

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Regina King in If Beale Street Could Talk

Amy Adams in Vice

Emma Stone in The Favourite

Rachel Weisz in The Favourite

Claire Foy in First Man

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Mahershala Ali in Green Book

Richard E. Grant in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Sam Elliott in A Star is Born

Adam Driver in BlacKkKlansman

Sam Rockwell in Vice

BEST ACTRESS

Glenn Close in The Wife

Lady Gaga in A Star is Born

Olivia Colman in The Favourite

Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Emily Blunt in Mary Poppins Returns

BEST ACTOR

Christian Bale in Vice

Viggo Mortensen in Green Book

Bradley Cooper in A Star is Born

Rami Malek in Bohemian Rhapsody

Ethan Hawke in First Reformed

BEST DIRECTOR

Spike Lee for BlacKkKlansman

Bradley Cooper for A Star is Born

Adam McKay for Vice

Pakel Pawlikowski for Cold War

Alfonso Cuaron for Roma

BEST PICTURE

A Star is Born

Green Book

Vice

Mary Poppins Returns

Black Panther

BlacKkKlansman

The Favourite

Cold War

Bohemian Rhapsody

A Quiet Place

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