Way Too Early Oscar Predictions: 2019 Edition

Fall film festival season has briefly paused as the big three (Telluride, Toronto, Venice) have all wrapped up and the next big one (New York) doesn't kick off until next Friday. Early buzz from the titles that have already premiered on the circuit hasn't established any true frontrunners in what is believed to be an ultracompetitive year, especially in the lead actor and actress categories. Fear not people because that lack of clarity isn't going to stop me from making some way too early Oscar predictions. As always, it needs to be noted that several high profile contenders (Little Women, The Irishman, 1917, Bombshell, Dark Waters) have yet to have a public screening and the prospective field could fluctuate significantly once they do. After sifting through the early reviews and looking at the trends of past years, here's what I came up for prospective nominees in the top categories. 

* indicates the projected winner

Best Picture:
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
The Farewell
Ford v. Ferrari
The Irishman  
Joker
Jojo Rabbit
Just Mercy
Little Women
Marriage Story*
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood

Best Director:
Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
Marielle Heller (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
James Mangold (Ford v. Ferrari)
Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
Quentin Tarantino (Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood)*

Best Actor:
Leonardo DiCaprio (Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood)
Adam Driver (Marriage Story)*
Michael B. Jordan (Just Mercy)
Joaquin Phoenix (Joker)
Jonathan Pryce (The Two Popes)

Best Actress:
Cynthia Erivo (Harriet)
Scarlett Johansson (Marriage Story)
Saiorse Ronan (Little Women)
Charlize Theron (Bombshell)
Renee Zellweger (Judy)*

Best Supporting Actor:
Christian Bale (Ford v. Ferrari)
Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)*
Anthony Hopkins (The Two Popes)
Jamie Foxx (Just Mercy)
Brad Pitt (Once Upon a Time in.. Hollywood)

Best Supporting Actress:
Laura Dern (Marriage Story)*
Jennifer Lopez (Hustlers)
Florence Pugh (Little Women)
Margot Robbie (Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood)
Suzhen Zhao (The Farewell)

Best Original Screenplay:
The Farewell
Ford v. Ferrari
Marriage Story*
Once Upon a Time in... Hollywood
Parasite

Best Adapted Screenplay:
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood*
The Irishman
Little Women
Joker
Just Mercy

Best Animated Feature:
Frozen 2
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Missing Link 
Toy Story 4*
Weathering with You

Best International Feature Film:
Dear Son
Les Misérables 
Monos
Pain and Glory
Parasite*