Oscar Updates: "Argo" Kicks off the Oscar Race!

This weekend, Ben Affleck's period thriller Argo premiered at the Telluride Film Festival, to rave reviews and immediate Oscar buzz.  While I certainly expected the film to generate some buzz, the film has unofficially kicked off the Oscar race and seems to be a formidable foe for the other films. While I won't be able to see the film until October, when it's released nationwide, I can update my Oscar predictions for a few categories:

First off all, I'm moving Argo up on my Best Picture rankings, right into the Big Leagues. Here's my current rankings:

1. The Master
2. Lincoln
3. Argo
4. Les Miserables
5. Life of Pi
6. Anna Karenina
7. Django Unchained
8. Beasts of the Southern Wild
9. Moonrise Kingdom

I've also updated the Best Supporting Actor brackets, due to the feedback towards Alan Arkin and Bryan Cranston. Here are my current rankings:

1. Leonardo DiCaprio, Django Unchained
2. Phillip Seymour Hoffman, The Master
3. Alan Arkin, Argo
4. Russell Crowe, Les Miserables
5. Dwight Henry, Beasts of the Southern Wild

ALTERNATES: Bryan Cranston, Argo ; William H. Macy, The Sessions

I'm maintaining my rankings for Best Director, however, I feel confident that Affleck will remain in contention and could even rise in the rankings as the year goes on. Lastly, while I haven't started my rankings for Best Original or Adapted Screenplay, I feel confident that Argo will be a part of the conversation for quite some time. That's all for my Oscar updates today. I'll be keeping you posted as the year goes on!