Oscar Preview — Acting Nominees

With the Academy Awards right around the corner on Sunday, March 4, I'm previewing the races. Today, I'll be looking at the acting races.

Best Actor:
* Daniel Day-Lewis, "Phantom Thread"
* Timothée Chalamet, "Call Me By Your Name"
* Daniel Kaluuya, "Get Out"
* Gary Oldman, "Darkest Hour"
* Denzel Washington, "Roman J. Israel, Esq."

About: This is a race that's had a clear favorite from the jump in Oldman, and I think he's still likely to win. A dark horse candidate, to me, is Day-Lewis, one of two previous winners in the category, and a legend who is likely to retire after this final role. He's masterful in the part. Will that sway voters?

Best Actress:
* Frances McDormand, "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"
* Margot Robbie, "I, Tonya"
* Saoirse Ronan, "Lady Bird"
* Meryl Streep, "The Post"
* Sally Hawkins, "The Shape of Water"

About: This is another race where I could easily see the front-runner, McDormand, taking the trophy and going home. She is fantastic in the film, which is a front-runner for Best Picture, too, and she has been sweeping all the awards. A dark horse, if there is one, is Hawkins. She, too, was great in her film, and is also part of a front-runner for Best Picture. If anyone other than McDormand wins on March 4, I think it will be her.

Best Supporting Actor:
* Willem Dafoe, "The Florida Project"
* Richard Jenkins, "The Shape of Water"
* Christopher Plummer, "All the Money in the World"
* Sam Rockwell, "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"
* Woody Harrelson, "Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri"

About: This is another race with a clear front-runner in Rockwell, who is simply fantastic in an unexpected role. In fact, when I first saw the film I loathed his character for about half the movie, then was completely drawn into his story by the end. That's part of the power of his performance. A couple of dark horses in the race are Harrelson, who is quite compelling in the film, too, and Dafoe, who is quite good in "The Florida Project." Dafoe, in fact, might be a winner a night earlier in the Independent Spirit Awards. But I still think Rockwell will take it.

Best Supporting Actress:
* Mary J. Blige, "Mudbound"
* Allison Janney, "I, Tonya"
* Lesley Manville, "Phantom Thread"
* Laurie Metcalf, "Lady Bird"
* Octavia Spencer, "The Shape of Water"

About: From the beginning, there has been a two-woman race. Janney was incredible as Tonya Harding's mother in "I, Tonya," and Metcalf was incredible as the mother of a daughter maturing into womanhood in "Lady Bird." Janney has seemingly won the awards, and many think she will take it on Academy Awards night. And she is a more than worthy choice. But I can't help but wonder if Metcalf will take it. And if there was a dark horse in the race, I think it would be Manville. She was excellent in "Phantom Thread," a film that surprised by getting so many nominations and could easily surprise again.