The 92nd Academy Awards are this Sunday night at 8:00 PM ET after a resurgent year for movies in 2019. As we saw last year with Green Book as a Best Picture surprise, anything can happen at the award show. Who will the 2020 Oscars go to?

 

Best Picture

Ford v Ferrari

The Irishman

Jojo Rabbit

Joker

Little Women

Marriage Story

1917

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Parasite

 

 

Pick: Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Prediction: Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

 

This is a stacked year for Best Picture nominees, with nine candidates including a bunch released late in the year. Until 1917 hit theaters in December, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood looked like the clear favorite for Best Picture. The tide has since turned, but Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film is both my personal pick and prediction to win on Sunday evening. The Academy might be influenced by a film with “Hollywood” in the title that gives a look inside the end of the golden age of cinema, and Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood is also relatable to everyday people. Plus, Sam Mendes already won Best Picture with American Beauty, and Tarantino’s second-to-last movie has been considered his magnum opus.

 

Best Actor

Antonio Banderas (Pain and Glory)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood)

Adam Driver (Marriage Story)

Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)

Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

 

 

Pick: Joaquin Phoenix

Prediction: Joaquin Pheonix

 

We’ve had shockers before, but Joaquin Phoenix winning Best Actor for his portrayal of Arthur Fleck/Joker in the first “DC Black” independent-style movie looks like a lock. This would be Phoenix’s first Oscar, and most agree he’s long overdue after three previous nominations (Walk the Line in 2005, The Master in 2012, and supporting actor for Gladiator in 2000), making it all the more likely he takes it home.

 

Best Actress

Cynthia Erivo (Harriet)

Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)

Saorise Ronan (Little Women)

Charlize Theron (Bombshell)

Renée Zellweger (Judy)

 

 

Pick: Renée Zellweger

Prediction: Renée Zellweger

 

Charlize Theron should not be completely counted out after she took it to another level playing former FOX News journalist and anchor Megyn Kelly, but Renée Zellweger is both the pick and the prediction for Best Actress. Zellweger had not been in a feature film since 2016, and the former Academy Award winner came back in a triumphant manner playing Judy Garland.

 

Best Supporting Actor

Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)

Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)

Al Pacino (The Irishman)

Joe Pesci (The Irishman)

Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood)

 

 

Pick: Brad Pitt

Prediction: Brad Pitt

 

Al Pacino and Joe Pesci were both superb in The Irishman, and either of them would have a great shot to win in other years. But Brad Pitt is set to finally win an Oscar after nearly three decades of consistent success in Hollywood. Leonardo DiCaprio, Margot Robbie, and the entire cast was very strong in Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood, but Pitt was arguably the foundation of the film as stuntman Cliff Booth, with both tense and hilarious moments throughout the story.

 

Best Supporting Actress

Kathy Bates (Richard Jewell)

Laura Dern (Marriage Story)

Scarlett Johansson (Jojo Rabbit)

Florence Pugh (Little Women)

Margot Robbie (Bombshell)

 

 

Pick: Margot Robbie

Prediction: Florence Pugh

 

Laura Dern is the favorite to win Best Supporting Actress for Marriage Story, but this is the most difficult category to pick in my opinion—it would not be a huge surprise if any of the five women nominated win the Oscar. I’ll give the nod to Margot Robbie in Bombshell narrowly over Kathy Bates in Richard Jewell, but the prediction is Florence Pugh in Little Women. Pugh is a rising actress and the youngest of the nominees, which could be advantageous for her in the supporting category in a tight year.

 

Best Director

Marin Scorsese (The Irishman)

Todd Phillips (Joker)

Sam Mendes (1917)

Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood)

Bong Joon Ho (Parasite)

 

 

Pick: Quentin Tarantino

Prediction: Sam Mendes

 

I’m guessing Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood and 1917 will split the Best Picture and Best Director categories, so this might go in the other direction (1917 for Best Picture and Tarantino for Best Director). 1917 could get the directing recognition for presenting the World War I epic in a continuous one-shot manner keeping viewers enthralled by the action. Keep in mind that Tarantino has never won Best Director, though, so that could potentially slant things in his favor.