2020 Oscars Predictions: Who Will Take Home the Night's Biggest Awards?

Nominees:
“Ford v Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Little Women”
“Marriage Story”
“1917”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”

Oscars upsets are actually fairly common, but even Academy voters can’t upset a juggernaut like Sam Mendes’ epic, one-take-ish war flick, especially after it picked up the top award at the Golden Globes, PGAs, and BAFTAs. The sheer production value and effort that went into producing the film is undeniable, and industry insiders love to hail this type of obsessive craftsmanship. Cinephiles would love if Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” could ride a wave of SAG glory to victory at the Oscars too, but that’s a highly unlikely coup.

Nominees:
Antonio Banderas in “Pain and Glory”
Leonardo DiCaprio in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Adam Driver in “Marriage Story”
Joaquin Phoenix in “Joker”
Jonathan Pryce in “The Two Popes”

As great as it would be to see Driver pick up the statue for his tear-jerking performance in “Marriage Story” (come on!) or Antonio Banderas make good on his first nomination for his role in “Pain and Glory,” the Oscar is likely going to Phoenix for his mad, mad portrayal of the comic book villain. It’s another case of too much hype to fail, after the clown scored a three-peat at the Golden Globes, SAG Awards and BAFTAs.

Nominees:
Cynthia Erivo in “Harriet”
Scarlett Johansson in “Marriage Story”
Saoirse Ronan in “Little Women”
Charlize Theron in “Bombshell”
Renee Zellweger in “Judy”

Another safe bet to pick the current awards darling, but Zellweger also has Academy guilt on her side, giving the Oscars the chance to right a great wrong, passing over Judy Garland’s performance in “A Star Is Born” in 1954. ScarJo and Ronan both deserve this one just as much (especially because more people saw both their movies).

Nominees:
Tom Hanks in “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Anthony Hopkins in “The Two Popes”
Al Pacino in “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci in “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt in “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”

Everyone agrees Pacino and Pesci will split the vote on “The Irishman”, so as much as one might want my cousin Vinny to sweep in to snag the supporting actor win, the award will likely go to Pitt, who can waltz right through the voting hole to his first Oscar win. As the most enjoyable part of “Once Upon a Time” not named Margot Robbie, Pitt deserves it. He also deserves the award for best dad abs, if only the Academy would recognize the category.

Nominees:
Kathy Bates in “Richard Jewell”
Laura Dern in “Marriage Story”
Scarlett Johansson in “Jojo Rabbit”
Florence Pugh in “Little Women”
Margot Robbie in “Bombshell”

She nailed the Golden Globe and she’ll nail the Oscar. Never have fans rooted more for a divorce attorney than for Dern’s compelling character in “Marriage Story.” For better or worse (definitely worse), this may be the film’s only win of the evening.