Updated Oscar Predictions

Oscar season is in full swing and while we're still over a month away from the nominees actually being announced, the fields for all categories are beginning to look pretty clear. Let's take a look at the nominees as I see them with the first film or name listed being the frontrunner and the last name being the most vulnerable.

Best Picture

12 Years a Slave
Gravity
Saving Mr. Banks
The Wolf of Wall Street
Nebraska
Captain Phillips
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
American Hustle

Possible Spoilers: Lone Survivor, Dallas Buyers Club, Lee Daniels' The Butler

With The Wolf of Wall Street and American Hustle revealing themselves, all of the possible nominees have been seen and reviewed. 12 Years a Slave and Gravity are still the frontrunners and have received nice boosts from critic groups nationwide to begin the award season. Saving Mr. Banks' chances will rely heavily on its box office performance domestically. If people show up for this movie, the Academy could award it for being the lighter film. Watch out for The Wolf of Wall Street. I've heard from more than one critic that it's Martin Scorsese's best film which is a HUGE complement. Outside of those four, I don't forsee any other film being a threat at the point. They're safe for nominations, but a win is unlikely.

Best Director

Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street
Joel and Ethan Coen, Inside Llewyn Davis
Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips

Possible Spoilers: Alexander Payne, Nebraska; Spike Jonze, Her; John Lee Hancock, Saving Mr. Banks; David O. Russell, American Hustle

McQueen and Cuaron are locker in, and one of the two will probably end up being the winner. If The Wolf of Wall Street continues to gain momentum, Scorsese can play in as a major factor. The last two spots are up for grabs. The Coen brothers are Oscar favorites so I would not be shocked in the least to see them sited. Greengrass has lost a lot of momentum since the beginning of the season, but I have faith that he'll be able to sneak in with his directing of one of the year's best films. The possible spoilers all have a legit shot at sneaking into the field but will need help in the precursors.

Best Actor

Chiwetal Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Possible Spoilers: Robert Redford, All is Lost; Forrest Whitaker, Lee Daniels' The Butler; Joaquin Phoenix, Her; Oscar Isaac, Inside Llewyn Davis; Christian Bale, American Hustle

The top four seem pretty safe at this point with all having a pretty good chance to take home the prize. The final spot is up for grabs though in a big way. I'm going with DiCaprio because 1) he was snubbed last year for Django Unchained; 2) he's never won an Oscar; and 3) The Wolf of Wall Street is gaining some serious buzz. Redford has lost a lot of steam as of late, even missing out on the SAG nomination. The remaining four all have a shot, but are looking less likely everyday.

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Emma Thompson, Saving Mr. Banks
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County
Judi Dench, Philomena

Possible Spoiler: Amy Adams, American Hustle

Basically, these five actresses are the final five. I do not see any other actress sneaking in and bumping one of these five. Adams has a chance because she's a four-time nominee and American Hustle could gain momentum once the public begins to see it, but it's a long shot. These five look to be safe. Who wins, however, is a different story. I can see Blanchett, Bullock, or Thompson taking home the prize with Streep and Dench happy to be nominated. Whoever may win will then be a multiple Oscar winner as each one of these five actresses have won in the past.

Best Supporting Actor

Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks, Saving Mr. Banks
James Gandolfini, Enough Said
Barkhard Abdi, Captain Phillips

Possible Spoilers: Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street; Daniel Bruhl, Rush; John Goodman, Inside Llewyn Davis; Will Forte, Nebraska; Bradley Cooper, American Hustle

Of all the categories, this one is the most wide open with only Leto and Fassbender being safe at this point in the race. Hanks is probably going to be able to sneak in there because, well, he's Tom Hanks as he's playing Walt Disney. The late James Gandolfini should be receiving a posthumous nomination with a chance at pulling off the upset and getting the win. Abdi had been quiet up to this point in the race, but then he scored a SAG nomination, and now I believe he'll be able to sneak in. All five spoilers have a chance to break into the field with Hill being the most likely because of the anticipated Wolf momentum.

Best Supporting Actress

Oprah Winfrey, Lee Daniels' The Butler
Lupita Nyong'o, 12 Years a Slave
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
June Squibb, Nebraska
Octavia Spencer, Fruitvale Station

Possible Spoilers: Julia Roberts, August: Osage County; Margo Martindale, August: Osage County

If Oprah is nominated, which I highly anticpate her being, I don't see her losing. She is, by far, the best part of The Butler and she can work the awards circuit like nobody else. Nyong'o, though, poses a huge threat as she is representing the Best Picture frontunner. Her role is heartbreaking and the Academy loves role like her's. Lawrence is one of the most popular actresses in the business today and she is on her way to going down in history as one of the best actresses of all-time. If American Hustle can pick up some steam, watch out for Lawrence. Squibb and Spencer will have to settle for a nomination, but watch out for the Osage County women. They're both hot on their heels.