In two days, the Academy will announce the nominees for the 97th Academy Awards. Each year, we experience a few shocks and surprises, and I am here to share my final predictions in the Best Picture and Director categories. While there were many picks I felt really comfortable with, my gut found a few places where I could see someone sneak into the five.

The battle throughout this award season has seen many interesting snubs in the world of Best Director, including Denis Villueneve, who missed out on several key big awards shows. However, he still leads the charge with wins in the Critics Group awards world. Will he be snubbed for a second time for Dune? In Best Picture, the big seven-eight seem locked in. Will Nickel Boys be blanked? Or will the Academy Award be the masterpiece?

Best Director

Brady Corbet, The Brutalist
Edward Berger, Conclave
Jacques Audiard, Emilia Perez
Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Part Two
James Mangold, A Complete Unknown

You may think I am crazy; I left out Sean Baker and Coralie Fargeat and even tossed in James Mangold. I can’t imagine we live in a world where Denis is snubbed; I refuse to believe it, even though I am probably wrong. However, Mangold’s DGA nomination opened the door for him to slide into the Best Director race. I don’t believe in Fargeat, and honestly, I think that RaMell Ross is getting snubbed, sadly.

Best Picture

Conclave
Wicked
The Brutalist
Emilia Perez
Dune: Part Two
A Complete Unknown
Anora
A Real Pain
Sing Sing
Nickel Boys

Please let me have Nickel Boys in at least Best Picture. It’s the one in the top ten I don’t have any confidence in, and the rest being sprinkled in other places solidifies their chance of being nominated. Look out for I’m Still Here, The Substance, and possibly Nosferatu sliding into the 9th or 10th slot.