There are lot of different front runners and a lot of consensus on who will get nominated, so it makes predicting who will get nominated a little bit easier this year. But as always, the Academy is bound to surprise.
This week, here are the final predictions for who and what we think will be nominated, followed our own personal choices that I would be filling out on my Oscar ballot if only they gave us a vote.
Well, let's start with the acting categories.
Best Actor in a Leading Role has been a set group of six incredible performances almost since the beginning, so this one is pretty easy to predict for the nominations. Are the definite locks to get nominations.
- Russell Crowe in The Insider
- Kevin Spacey in American Beauty
- Denzel Washington in The Hurricane
- Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story
- Matt Damon in The Talented Mr. Ripley
- Jim Carrey in Man on the Moon
Initially, we thought Jim Carrey, but Man on the Moon was not as successful as most thought it would be, both critically and commercially, while Damon's performance has received a number of good notices. we'll go out on a limb and predict that Carrey will still get the nod, because his performance as Andy Kaufman is indeed extraordinary.
Our personal picks are very similar to this list, with Carrey, Crowe, Farnsworth, Spacey, and Washington, and give the Oscar to Russell Crowe. All great performances, tough to choose from, but for me Crowe's performance showed a much broader range and he really showed all the facets of his character, both inside and out.
Best Actress gets a little bit tougher. Without a doubt, Hilary Swank for Boys Don't Cry and Annette Bening for American Beauty will get the first two nominations here. It's definitely Swank's year, and she is so strong right now, she has to be considered the front runner to win the whole thing.
Predicting the other three nominees is a little bit tougher ... we think the Academy's love of Meryl Streep will earn her a record-tying 12th nomination for her performance in Music of the Heart. Another good bet is Janet McTeer, the Golden Globe Comedy winner for Tumbleweeds.
