Walkover alert: you don't have to wait for the Oscars to know who will win in these 7 categories

Frontrunner: Leonardo DiCaprio for The Revenant

Dark horse: Is there really anyone?

Seriously, can ANYONE beat Leonardo DiCaprio this year? CAN ANYONE? Literally everyone expects DiCaprio to walk away with the statue - and the undertone of the affair is, "finally". DiCaprio is the classic 'always the nominee, never the winner'. And the feeling is that it's time for the Academy to make good on his right to win.

If there is an upset in sight, no one can see it - not that there's a shortage of talent among fellow nominees. Bryan Cranston in Trumbo. Michael Fassbender in and as Steve Jobs. Eddie Redmayne for The Danish Girl and Matt Damon for The Martian.

Ironically, while most are agreed DiCaprio deserves to win an Oscar, ask whether he deserves to win it for this film, against this lineup, and you'll get a mixed bag of responses.

But the bottomline is clear: DiCaprio's Oscar is an idea whose time has come.

Also read - Can't say if he'll win - but here's what DiCaprio will eat at the Oscars

Frontrunner: Brie Larson for Room

Dark horse: Saoirse Ronan for Brooklyn

Again, like for Best Actor, is there really a choice? As Vulture put it three days ago, "Can Anyone Beat Brie and Leo at the Oscars?"

The overwhelming answer seems no - but if there is even a contender in sight, it's Saoirse Ronan for her role in Brooklyn. Alicia Vikander and Rooney Mara decided to opt to campaign for Best Supporting Actress and clear the way for 26-year-old Brie to win it, clearly recognising her performance was head and shoulders above the rest.

Frontrunner: Alicia Vikander for The Danish Girl

Dark horse: Again, no consensus

Just give it to Alicia Vikander already. She's had a stellar 2015 - from playing the robot in Ex-Machina, to movies like Testament of Youth and The Man From U.N.C.L.E., she's demonstrated her talent and range in stellar fashion. Her role in The Danish Girl has been widely praised and shouldn't be overlooked by the Academy voters.

Also read - Hello, Oscar nominees: here's who made the O-list for 2016!

Frontrunner: Spotlight

Dark horse: All other four nominees

Spotlight, based on the true story of how Boston Globe uncovered the massive church child molestation scandal, was an outstanding film. At the heart of the movie lies the screenplay that moves so swiftly, you're never bored for a moment. That's probably why 27 experts think Spotlight will win. Is there a dark horse? Inside Out, but only if the Academy has it in for the Spotlight crew for any reason.

Frontrunner: The Big Short

Dark horse: No consensus

The Big Short, a comedy (as the Golden Globes would like to say), is based on the financial crisis of 2008 and a shoe-in for the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar come Sunday night. Room, Carol, The Martian and Brooklyn may be hoping to be the upset of the night.

It isn't looking likely.

Frontrunner: Emmanuel Lubezki for The Revenant

Dark Horse: Roger Deakins for Sicario

If you haven't seen Birdman, let alone Gravity, you're seriously missing out. For the past two years, Emmanuel Lubezki has been dominating the awards circuit, and has won cinematography awards for both these movies. And even those who disliked The Revenant (yes, they exist) singled out the cinematography as spectacular. Lubezki is going to take home the three-peat come the Oscars and he will make history in the process.

Roger Deakins and Sicario do have an outside shot at upsetting Lubezki - but the Academy voters will have had to have really HATED The Revenant for that to happen.

Frontrunner: Inside Out

Dark horse: Have you even heard of any of the other nominated films?

Inside Out will most definitely win Pixar another Oscar come the 88th Academy Awards. Anomalisa, say some, is the better movie but as CNN puts it, "this year's unlikeliest Oscar contender". The sheer brilliance of Inside Out at many levels will win them the trophy.

But while these are the almost-walkovers, there's an equally long list of categories that are building up to epic tension. Click here for our predictions - yes, we're sticking our necks out - in categories where more than one worthy contender is battling it out for the golden lady.

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