September is here which, usually, marks the beginning of Award Season in the world of film. This year might be “semi”-different because of the change in the awards timeline, but that doesn’t mean we cannot start looking at the upcoming season.
Every month I will be going through the “above the line” categories at the Oscars and giving my take on who I think will win, who will be nominated, and who are the first two out.
The Nominees are all in alphabetical order.
Picture

Winner:
- The Trial of the Chicago 7
Nominees:
- Dune
- Hillbilly Elegy
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Mank
- Minari
- News of the World
- Nomadland
- Recent winner of the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The past three winners include Joker, Roma, The Shape of Water.
- Soul
First Two Out:
- The Father
- Da 5 Bloods
Director

Winner:
- David Fincher – Mank
Nominees:
- Aaron Sorkin – The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Chloe Zhao – Nomadland
- Dennis Villeneuve – Dune
- Paul Greengrass – News of the World
First Two Out:
- Shaka King – Judas and the Black Messiah
- Steven Spielberg – West Side Story
Lead Actor

Winner:
- Anthony Hopkins – The Father
Nominees:
- Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods
- Daniel Kaluuya – Judas and the Black Messiah
- Gary Oldman – Mank
- Steven Yeun – Minari
First Two Out:
- Kingsley Ben-Adir – One Night in Miami
- Eddie Redmayne – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Lead Actress

Winner:
- Frances McDormand – Nomadland
Nominees:
- Amy Adams – Hillbilly Elegy
- Jennifer Hudson – Respect
- Kate Winslet – Ammonite
- Viola Davis – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
First Two Out:
- Carey Mulligan – Promising Young Woman
- Jessie Buckley – i’m thinking of ending things
Supporting Actor
Winner:
- Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
Nominees:
- Bill Murray – On the Rocks
- I have a feeling he was in the trailer a lot for marketing purposes, but I don’t think the movie will be just him and Rashida Jones as it implied. However, if I am wrong I can always change it.
- Jeremy Strong – The Trial of the Chicago 7
- Lakeith Stanfield – Judas and the Black Messiah
- Sacha Baron Cohen – The Trial of the Chicago 7
First Two Out:
- Tom Pelphrey – Mank
- Yahya Abdul-Mateen II – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Supporting Actress

Winner:
- Glenn Close – Hillbilly Elegy
Nominees:
- Amanda Seyfried – Mank
- Ariana DeBose – West Side Story
- Olivia Colman – The Father
- Saoirse Ronan – Ammonite
First Two Out:
- Helena Zengel – News of the World
- Youn Yuh-jung – Minari
Original Screenplay

Winner:
- The Trial of the Chicago 7
Nominees:
- Mank
- Minari
- On the Rocks
- Soul
First Out:
- Judas and the Black Messiah
- Palm Springs
Adapted Screenplay

Winner:
- Dune
Nominees:
- i’m thinking of ending things
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom
- Nomadland
- One Night in Miami…
First Two Out:
- News of the World
- Hillbilly Elegy
What do you think of my picks? Do you agree or disagree? Let me know in the comments or on twitter @ Tberry57!
Jacob is a film critic and co-founder of the Music City Drive-In. He is a member of the Music City Film Critics’ Association and specializes in the awards season. You can find him on Twitter @Tberry57.
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