Academy Award Nominees: The Acting Categories

It's Academy Awards Week, and as part of the run up to the big day I'm looking at the races. Come back on February 24 to see my official picks prior to the awards Sunday night.

Best Actor:
* Bradley Cooper, "A Star is Born"
* Rami Malek, "Bohemian Rhapsody"
* Christian Bale, "Vice"
* Viggo Mortensen, "Green Book"
* Willem Dafoe, "At Eternity's Gate"

About: This is a really tough race. There are five good actors here, and it's possibly a four-man race if some of the pundit predictions are correct. Rami Malek has long been the front-runner, and he's won a number of awards. But there's been a strong push of late for industry favorites like Mortensen and Cooper to get some love, and Bale has been a strong dark horse for his great work in "Vice." This feels like one that could go right down to the wire. I personally would love to see Cooper win because he's been so great and often over looked in many parts, and poured his heart and soul into "A Star is Born." But I still think Malek will get the nod.

Best Actress:
* Lady Gaga, "A Star is Born"
* Glenn Close, "The Wife"
* Olivia Coleman, "The Favourite"
* Yalitza Aparicio, "Roma"
* Melissa McCarthy, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

About: This feels like a three horse race, but possibly only a two-horse race at this point. Close has won frequently this awards season, and could well do so again. She's an industry veteran who is gaining recognition for her body of work as much as this one film. Coleman has also been a frequent winner, and was truly great in "The Favourite." Then there is Gaga, who could well be recognized for her great work in "A Star is Born," which was hot, then faded, but might be getting hot again. I, personally, would love to see Gaga win. I think it will end up being Coleman. Both are worthy choices.

Best Supporting Actor:
* Sam Elliott, "A Star is Born"
* Richard E. Grant, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
* Mahershala Ali, "Green Book"
* Adam Driver, "BlacKkKlansman"
* Sam Rockwell, "Vice"

About: Two previous winners in this category are up again, and this is a tough slate of five nominees. It's kind of exciting this year that all the acting races still feel wide open, and this is no exception. I could easily see Elliott getting the nod here, or possibly one of the other nominees. And all gave good performances. However, I feel like Ali is the front-runner and is my pick to win. And I think he should win. He's great in the role and really elevates the film for me.

Best Supporting Actress:
* Regina King, "If Beale Street Could Talk"
* Rachel Weisz, "The Favourite"
* Emma Stone, "The Favourite"
* Amy Adams, "Vice"
* Marina de Tavira, "Roma"

About: An interesting mix of actresses here. You could make a case for any of them, and I would be excited for many of them. Stone and Weisz have won in the past, while King and Adams seem to be chronically under appreciated for their work. I think it could come down to King and Weisz here. King could easily snap up this award for her great work in "Beale Street," a film that feels under-represented in the award nominations. Weisz, meanwhile, was incredible in "The Favourite." She would be my pick to win, but having two nominees from the film could split the vote.