We finally have a little bit of clarity, as most of the critics’ groups and some of the bigger precursors have unveiled their nominees. But it still feels like One Battle After Another is in pole position, even after its backlash and good-but-not-great box office.

BEST PICTURE
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Frankenstein
Hamnet
It Was Just an Accident
Marty Supreme
One Battle After Another
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Train Dreams
Falling off: Jay Kelly, Wicked: For Good
Rising star: Bugonia
The skinny: Netflix was never going to have more than two films in this race, and it looks like Train Dreams is picking up steam (pun sort of intended) while Jay Kelly is yesterday’s news. Speaking of which, if Wicked: For Good can’t pick up a nod in the Golden Globes Musical or Comedy category – with six slots, no less – there’s no way in hell it’s making it here. Bugonia will likely have to settle for Actress and Adapted Screenplay nods, but it is hitting streaming at just the right time to surge into the race.

BEST DIRECTOR
Chloé Zhao, Hamnet
Jafar Panahi, It Was Just an Accident
Paul Thomas Anderson, One Battle After Another
Joachim Trier, Sentimental Value
Ryan Coogler, Sinners
Falling off: None
Rising star: Guillermo Del Toro, Frankenstein
The skinny: This feels like our five, unless Sentimental Value is on shakier ground than I thought.

BEST ACTOR
Timothée Chalamet, Marty Supreme
Leonardo DiCaprio, One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke, Blue Moon
Michael B. Jordan, Sinners
Wagner Moura, The Secret Agent
Falling off: George Clooney, Dwayne Johnson
Rising star: Joel Edgerton, Train Dreams
The skinny: Chalamet is on a charm offensive the likes of which we’ve never seen. And losing Best Actor last year is all part of it. But Clooney and the Rock falling out of the final five is great news for Ethan Hawke (who should have more nods) and Michael B. Jordan (who’s never gotten one). This could be an all-timer lineup after more than a decade of lackluster winners.

BEST ACTRESS
Jessie Buckley, Hamnet
Rose Byrne, If I Had Legs I’d Kick You
Renate Reinsve, Sentimental Value
Amanda Seyfried, The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone, Bugonia
Falling off: Cynthia Erivo, Jennifer Lawrence
Rising star: Chase Infiniti, One Battle After Another
The skinny: There’s only room for so many grieving mothers, so out goes Jennifer Lawrence (despite giving the best performance of her career). But that means we’ve got a hell of a showdown between Jessie Buckley and Rose Byrne. And if One Battle After Another continues to dominate, the Oscars might get a chance to show an ingenue some love by giving some much-deserved recognition to Chase Infiniti.

















