Early Oscar Favorites: Best Actor and Best Actress

Here's Best Actor and Best Actress.

Best Actor

This one is by far the easiest category this year, with Leonardo DiCaprio's name all over it this year, and while I'm personally not a huge fan, he's deserving of this one for his all-out, down-and-dirty method turn in the brilliant "The Revenant." I'd be surprised if he doesn't win. His biggest competition comes from Michael Fassbender's great performance as the iconic Apple CEO in "Steve Jobs" and last year's winner, Eddie Redmayne, as a real-life transgender pioneer in "The Danish Girl."

There are three for sure, and they are:
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"
Michael Fassbender, "Steve Jobs"
Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl"

Also a likely nominee is:
Matt Damon, "The Martian"

The last slot is up for grabs, and will likely go to:
Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"

Possible nominees may include:
Johnny Depp, "Black Mass"
Will Smith, "Concussion"
Michael Caine, "Youth"

Though the Academy loves Caine, "Youth" is a fine but little-seen drama about aging, while Smith's "Concussion" is losing ground to mixed reviews. That last slot will be either Cranston or Depp, and for now I'm going with Cranston, who's received both Golden Globe and SAG nominations.

Best Actress

Unlike Best Actor, Best Actress is a more difficult category this year given many fine female performances this year, and it'll be mixed with newcomers, past winners and veterans with first-time nominations. There are also performances that blur the line between lead and supporting, given that both Alicia Vikander for "The Danish Girl" and Rooney Mara for "Carol" are both lead performances but will likely be pushed for supporting turns (the Golden Globes didn't see it that way and nominated both ladies as leads).

Brie Larson for the excellent "Room," previous Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett for the groundbreaking "Carol" and Saiorse Ronan for the tender drama "Brooklyn" are all in. From there, it will get interesting. Veteran Charlotte Rampling is gaining support for the fine drama "45 Years," and I could easily see her receiving her first nomination. As for the last slot, it could go to a number of different people, including comedian Sarah Silverman, for her surprising SAG-nominated performance in the little-seen drama "I Smile Back," Academy darling Jennifer Lawrence in "Joy," which is receiving mixed reviews, Carey Mulligan in the little-seen drama "Suffragette," Oscar-winner Helen Mirren for her SAG-nominated turn in "Woman in Gold" and Golden Globe nominees Lily Tomlin for "Grandma" (which I would love) or Maggie Smith in "The Lady in the Van," which opens wide in January. Of these, I'm going with Lawrence or Mirren, if nothing else for name-recognition.

Certain nominees are:
Brie Larson, "Room"
Cate Blanchett, "Carol"
Saiorse Ronan, "Brooklyn"

Likely:
Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"

with the final slot going to:
Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"