Top Oscar nomination contenders as of early November

Overall trends: Support for The Artist is rising while support for J. Edgar is falling. The best picture list may end after the first eight films. Jonah Hill (Moneyball) and Jim Broadbent (The Iron Lady) are very much in contention for the fifth supporting actor's spot.

PICTURE
The Descendants
War Horse
The Artist
Midnight in Paris
J. Edgar
The Help
Moneyball
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Ides of March

DIRECTOR
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Steven Spielberg, War Horse
Michel Hazanabvicius, The Artist
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Clint Eastwood, J. Edgar

ACTOR
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

ACTRESS
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Viola Davis, The Help
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Charlize Theron, Young Adult

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Albert Brooks, Drive
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Nick Nolte, Warrior

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus
Shailene Woodley, The Descendants
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Tree of Life