ACADEMY AWARD HOPEFULS

Best Picture: Fantasy drama The Shape of Water is tipped for glory in this coveted category. While Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri has received critical acclaim, it is unlikely to win, critics say, as the film received no tell-tale Best Director nomination. Best Actor: Brit Gary Oldman is a shoo-in for his turn as Winston Churchill in the Darkest Hour. But critics have suggested Timothée Chalamet, of coming-of-age flick Call Me By Your Name, could be a dark horse. Brits Daniel Kaluuya and Daniel Day-lewis are also nominated in this category. Best Actress: Fans and critics say Frances Mcdormand will beat Meryl Streep and Saoirse Ronan to scoop the prize for her star turn in Three Billboards. She’d become the 14th person to win multiple Best Actress Oscars. Best Supporting Actor: This category looks like a two-horse race between Three Billboards’ Sam Rockwell and Willem Dafoe for The Florida Project. Rockwell scooped a Golden Globe last month in the category. Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney will likely take the prize for her turn as the snarky Lavona Harding in ice-skating biopic I, Tonya. Her hottest contender is actress Laurie Metcalf for her emotional performance as Marion Mcpherson in Lady Bird. Best Director: It could be a victory for a Brit – Christopher Nolan is favourite to take home one of the most prestigious accolades for his WW2 thriller Dunkirk (above).