I usually have a hard time predicting the Supporting Actor and Actress categories. There are traditionally some ringers and this year is no exception. The Supporting Actor category is especially difficult. The early front runners were Richard E. Grant for “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and Sam Elliot for “A Star is Born”. Then Mareshala Ali for “Green Book” started winning some of the early awards. Adam Driver for “BlacKkKlansman” and Sam Rockwell for “Vice” round out the list, but don’t look like they have a chance. Rockwell won last year. If the Oscar goes to Elliot it will reward an actor who has been dependable for a long time. Ali won two years ago, but seems to be the favorite now and Grant gave a great performance. I am split between Ali and Grant, but will give it to Ali.

The Supporting Actress category is a little easier to predict because most of the pre-Oscar awards have gone to Regina King for “If Beale Street Could Talk”. King should have been nominated for “Ray” and she is always good. In “Beal Street” she gives a strong, virtuoso performance. Amy Adams is nominated again for “Vice” as Lynn Cheney. As usual she is excellent, tough and relentless. This is her sixth nomination and there is the possibility that the Academy may take that into consideration. Rachel Wiesz and Emma Stone were equally bitchy in “The Favourite”, but I think they will cancel each other out. Finally, Marina del Tavarina’s nomination for “Roma” is the Academy’s way of honoring “Roma” some more. In the end, I think that Regina King will wall off with the trophy.

As most of you may know I am a fan of the Academy Awards. The Oscar Nominees were announced on January 22nd. Here are my thoughts on a few on the Best Actor and Actress categories. The Best Actress category is one of the most interesting races in recent history. The early front runner was Lady Gaga for “A Star is Born”. I have to admit she was amazing, in a performance that captivated the screen. You couldn’t take your eyes off of her. In past years, she would be a shoo-in, but this year is different. Glenn Close, who has been nominated seven times and never won, is up for her performance in “The Wife”. Close is great in everything that she does and this film is no exception. She is now the front runner and will probably win as much for this role as for a lifetime of incredible acting. If there is an upset, it’ll probably Gaga. The other nominees, Yalitza Aparicio was the heart and soul of “Roma”; Melissa McCarthy turned in a unique performance in “Can You Ever Forgive Me”; and Olivia Colman stole “The Favorite” from two amazing actresses.

The Best Actor category also has two front runners. Christian Bale transformed himself into Dick Cheney in “Vice”. His performance is amazing. He has won a few awards, but I am rooting for Rami Malek as Freddy Mercury in “Bohemian Rhapsody”. His was one of those performances that doesn’t come along very often, like Jamie Foxx in “Ray” or Marion Cotillard in “La Vie en Rose”. He was real every moment of the film. Viggo Mortensen morphs into every role he takes on and “Green Book” is no exception. He will probably win one day, but this isn’t his year. Bradley Cooper gave a great performance in “A Star is Born” as well as directing it. (He was robbed of a Best Director nomination!) Willem Dafoe is also a nominee for “At Eternity’s Gate”, which is probably the least seen film in this list. (I haven’t seen that one.)

So my picks for Best Actress is Glenn Close and Best Actor Rami Melek.