Oscar Acting Predictions: Adam Driver Leads a Star-Studded Class (Dec. 6)

In part 2 of our preview, we’re jumping into the acting races. This year’s class looks to be absolutely loaded with talent, and that bodes well for the Oscars in 2019. A lot of great young talent puts themselves in the position to earn nominations, but its the veterans and established stars that look to run the table. Adam Driver concludes a massive year, with five films releasing in 2019.

The actor has become the Richard Dreyfus of his generation. Driver was reliable in dialogue-driven roles (The Report), he owns a place in one of the biggest franchises in the world (Star Wars) and he’s continued auteur work (Dead Don’t Die & Marriage Story). He’s got a weirdly likable actor despite playing generally unlikable characters. 2019 feels like an obvious time to reward him, and he’s headlining one of the big contenders of the year. The guys going to win an Oscar someday, but can he hold off the legendary actors biting at his heels? Let’s jump into the predictions.

NOTE: Any awards in Italics means the performer WON the prize from said group.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Predicted Five

Cynthia Erivo — Harriet

Scarlett Johannson — Marriage Story (Altman Award/Indie Spirit)

Saorise Ronan — Little Women

Charlize Theron — Bombshell* PREDICTED WINNER

Renée Zellweger — Judy (Indie, BIFA, AFCC, NBR)

The Next Five

Awkwafina — The Farewell (Gotham)

Elisabeth Moss — Her Smell (Gotham, Indie Spirit)

Lupita Nyong’o — Us (NYFCC)

Mary Kay Place — Diane (Gotham, Indie Spirit)

Alfre Woodard — Clemency (Gotham, Indie Spirit)

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Predicted Five

Antonio Banderas — Pain and Glory (NYFCC)

Robert De Niro — The Irishman

Leonardo DiCaprio — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Adam Driver —  Marriage Story (Altman Award/Indie Spirit, Gotham, AFCC)* PREDICTED WINNER

Joaquin Phoenix — Joker

The Next Five

Christian Bale — Ford v Ferrari

Taron Egerton — Rocketman

Eddie Murphy — Dolemite is My Name

Jonathan Pryce — The Two Popes

Adam Sandler — Uncut Gems (Gotham, Indie Spirits, NBR)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Predicted Five

Kathy Bates — Richard Jewell

Laura Dern — Marriage Story (Altman Award/Indie Spirit)* PREDICTED WINNER

Jennifer Lopez — Hustlers (Indie Spirit)

Margot Robbie — Bombshell

Zhao Shuzhen — The Farewell (Indie Spirit)

The Next Five

Annette Benning — The Report 

Octavia Spencer — Luce (Indie Spirit)

Thomasin Mackenzie — Jojo Rabbit

Margot Robbie — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Taylor Russell — Waves (Gotham, Indie Spirit)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Predicted Five

Willem Dafoe — The Lighthouse (Gotham, Indie Spirit)

Tom Hanks — A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Al Pacino — The Irishman

Joe Pesci — The Irishman

Brad Pitt — Once Upon a Time in Hollywood *PREDICTED WINNER

The Next Five

Alan Alda — Marriage Story (Altman Award/Indie Spirit)

Sterling K. Brown — Waves

Anthony Hopkins — The Two Popes

Song Kang-ho — Parasite

Shia LaBeouf — Honey Boy (Indie Spirit)

Who are we leaving out of the top of each category? Let us hear in the comments below!

NBR Names ‘The Irishman’ Best Film of 2019

We’re officially in Oscar season! Our first precursor comes in today, and the winners potentially shine a light on films to keep an eye on for the coming season. Last year, the National Board of Review named Green Book their Best Film. Clearly, the group has its finger on some kind of pulse, and it bodes well for this year’s winner The Irishman. The NBR’s Best Film has been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars in 9 of the last 10 years, and 17 of the last 19 years.

Other notable wins went to Adam Sandler, who needed something like this to get attention on his campaign. This will be a big boost for him. Many have seen his early-season success as fluky, but as he continues to pick up nominations, someone will have to take him seriously. Renée Zellweger picked up her first of many prizes to come this year, as did Brad Pitt. There’s going to be an unintentional reunion occurring throughout the season. Kathy Bates (Sandler’s Mama in from Waterboy) also took home an acting prize for Best Supporting Actress for Richard Jewell. She’s going to break into the race quickly, and with the field wide open, she could do some major damage.

The big miss comes from Joker, which missed everything. It was assumed by many that it would at least appear in the NBR’s Top 10. After all, WB films have often done well at NBR. Just last year, A Star Is Born took home three prizes. That love went to Richard Jewell instead. That could signal which film the studio wants to push more this season.

Check out the full list of nominees below!

Best Film: The Irishman

Best Director: Quentin Tarantino – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Actor: Adam Sandler – Uncut Gems

Best Actress: Renée Zellweger – Judy

Best Supporting Actor: Brad Pitt – Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Best Supporting Actress: Kathy Bates – Richard Jewell

Best Original Screenplay: Uncut Gems – Benny & Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Irishman – Steve Zaillian

Best Animated Feature: How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

Breakthrough Performance: Paul Walter Hauser – Richard Jewell

Best Directorial Debut: Melina Matsoukas – Queen & Slim

Best Foreign Language Film: Parasite

Best Documentary: Maiden

Best Ensemble: Knives Out

Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography: Roger Deakins

NBR Icon Award: Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino

NBR Freedom of Expression Award: For Sama  & Just Mercy

Top Films (in alphabetical order)

1917
Dolemite Is My Name
Ford v Ferrari
Jojo Rabbit
Knives Out
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Richard Jewell
Uncut Gems
Waves

Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in alphabetical order)

Atlantics

Invisible Life

Pain and Glory

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Transit

Top 5 Documentaries (in alphabetical order)

American Factory

Apollo 11

The Black Godfather

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese

Wrestle

Top 10 Independent Films (in alphabetical order)

The Farewell
Give Me Liberty
A Hidden Life
Judy
The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Midsommar
The Nightingale
The Peanut Butter Falcon
The Souvenir
Wild Rose

What do you think of our first big precursor? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!