(Photo by Marvel Studios)

During Awards Season, Rotten Tomatoes editor Jacqueline Coley will be reporting on the big contenders, the most important ceremonies, and surprise shifts in the race towards Oscar gold.

For reasons yet to be understood, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) have opted to condense this year’s awards season by two weeks, as the Oscars, which are typically held the last week of February, have been moved up to the first week of the month. This has put the entire industry into a scramble with what is already a brutal grind of events, screenings, and glad-handing — that is, “the season.” Despite this, the usual players are working the right rooms and meeting voters in the hopes of snagging one of those elusive golden statuettes. Most of the Oscar categories are?nominated by their various branches; directors nominate directors, actors nominate actors, and all the branches vote for Best Picture. However, many branches have a preliminary sub-committee made up of members and professionals who help whittle down the potential noms to a workable list called the “shortlist,” and the various branches vote off of that. This year, the Academy released the names of the selected films from nines categories. In this, our first installment of Trophy Talk for the 2019 season, we break down the feature-length categories, single out our favorites, and place early odds on the eventual nominees and winners.

Best Visual Effects

Alita: Battle Angel(2019)61%
Avengers: Endgame(2019)94%
Captain Marvel(2019)78%
Marriage Story(2019)95%
Breakthrough(2019)61%
Gemini Man(2019)26%
The Irishman(2019)96%
The Lion King(2019)53%
(2019)94%
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019)58%
(2019)94%

Early responses to the trailer for?Catsand early screening reactions to the film have been none too kind, particularly on the visual effects side. Still, the VFX shorts committee saw enough to include it here. It’s puzzling, as James Gray’sAd Astra, a brilliant film with jaw-dropping visuals, was regrettably omitted. In the end,?The Lion King,Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, andAvengers Endgame?will likely make it to Oscar night to duke it out amongst themselves.

Bombshell(2019)62%
Dolemite Is My Name(2019)97%
Rocketman(2019)89%
Joker(2019)69%
Judy(2019)83%
Little Women(2019)96%
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil(2019)40%
(2019)94%
Joker(2019)69%
Judy(2019)83%

Our pick for the Best?Makeup and Hairstyling in 2020 has been locked since we saw the first trailer forBombshell. Charlize Theron’s eerie transformation into Fox News anchor Meghan Kelly was achieved primarily through the aid of makeup, but it is John Lithgow’s near unrecognizable turn as Fox News founder Roger Ailes that clinched this one for us.Dolemite is My NameandRocketmanare our picks to joinBombshell?with a nomination, but?there’s no question who’s winning.

Advocate(2019)100%
American Factory(2019)97%
Apollo 11(2019)99%
The Apollo(2019)100%
The Biggest Little Farm(2019)91%
Aquarela(2019)87%
The Cave(2019)98%
The Edge of Democracy(2019)96%
For Sama(2019)99%
The Great Hack(2019)88%
Honeyland(2019)99%
Maiden(2019)98%
Midnight Traveler(2019)100%
One Child Nation(2019)98%

This category is always precarious. Last year what we all assumed to be the odds-on favorite,?Won’t You Be My Neighbor, failed to make it off the shortlist, and IMAX thrill rideFree Solotook home the top prize. This year, the competition is currently wide open withFor Sama, The Biggest Little Farm, andApollo 11all marked as strong contenders. Adding inHoneyland, which competes here and in the Best International Film Category, it’s anyone’s guess who makes it off the shortlist, but one thing we know for sure: It has been an?outstanting?year for Documentary features.

The Painted Bird(2019)88%
Truth and Justice (T?de ja ?igus)(2019)
Les Misérables(2020)82%
Marriage Story(2019)95%
Honeyland(2019)99%
Corpus Christi (Boze cialo)(2020)94%
Beanpole (Dylda)(2020)93%
Atlantics(2019)95%
Parasite (Gisaengchung)(2019)99%
Pain and Glory (Dolor y gloria)(2019)97%

This one is not even a question.Parasiteis getting the nomination, and it’s winning. Nothing will stop it now. The only?uncertainty is who will join the Cannes Palme d’Or winner when nominations are announced. We’re looking atAtlantics, Honeyland, Pain & Glory,andLes Miserables, but each one would join with full knowledge there is no chance they can win.

(Photo by Neon)

“Speechless” fromAladdin“Letter To My Godfather” fromThe Black Godfather“I’m Standing With You” fromBreakthrough“Da Bronx” fromThe Bronx USA“Into The Unknown” fromFrozen II“Stand Up” from Harriet“Catchy Song” fromThe Lego Movie 2: The Second Part“Never Too Late” fromThe Lion King“Spirit” fromThe Lion King“Daily Battles” fromMotherless Brooklyn“A Glass of Soju” fromParasite“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” fromRocketman“High Above The Water” fromToni Morrison: The Pieces I Am“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” fromToy Story 4“Glasgow” fromWild Rose

Taylor Swift fans were more than a little upset she failed to make it to the Oscars shortlist for her new song for the musicalCats, but Beyoncé fans?have more than enough to cheer about. As with Lady Gaga in 2019, many will vote for “Spirit” fromThe Lion Kingjust?for a chance to see Beyoncé perform in the flesh, but we think that is where the comparison ends, asFrozen II‘s “Into the Unknown” is the clear front-runner.

Avengers: Endgame(2019)94%
Bombshell(2019)62%
The Farewell(2019)98%
Ford v Ferrari(2019)92%
Frozen II(2019)77%
Jojo Rabbit(2019)79%
Joker(2019)69%
The King(2019)70%
Little Women(2019)96%
Marriage Story(2019)95%
Motherless Brooklyn(2019)63%
(2019)94%
Pain and Glory (Dolor y gloria)(2019)97%
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker(2019)58%
Us(2019)93%

Based on the buzz and our Awards Leaderboard,Joker, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Little Women, 1917, andMarriage Storyare pretty much locks for us, but keep an eye out forUS, The King,?or?Avengers: Endgame?to pull a last-minute upset for a nomination. Also, please allow us just a moment to lament the fact that the pulse-pounding score forUncut Gemsfailed to make the list.

Nominations for the 2020 Academy Awards will be announced on Monday, January 13 at 5am PST / 8am EST.?Check back at Rotten Tomatoes to see who gets a nod!?

Are you as obsessed with awards as we are? Check out our Awards Leaderboard for 2019/2020.