The elephant on the track at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony is Timothée Chalamet — yes, the people’s prince who seems to have lost favor for his increasingly round-faced conceitedness. Why would I be talking about Leonardo DiCaprio? 

But sigh — it’s no use. With a father-son dynamic, Chalamet and DiCaprio are set in stone as Oscar favorites and will continue to reign as kings of the world because, let’s be honest: We’ve loved them ever since we met them.

We have reached the best actor category in this year’s race for the Academy Awards. A moustached Chalamet holds the torch — a table tennis paddle — at the front of the pack, donning ostentatious orange and a smug grin that evangelizes the phrase “DREAM BIG.” Between Oscar campaigns and late-night interviews, the actor has immersed himself in the titular man’s blind ego in “Marty Supreme.” The buzz for Chalamet’s performance has been blaring bright throughout awards season: He snatched both a Critics’ Choice Award and Golden Globe for the role. The Oscar is within his grasp, especially after the Academy snubbed his superior performance as Bob Dylan in “A Complete Unknown” at last year’s ceremony. 

In second place chasing Chalamet is Wagner Moura, who delivered a commendable performance as Armando Solimões in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s “The Secret Agent.” Since Bong Joon Ho’s “Parasite” won best picture in 2019, international films have increasingly overcome the closed-caption barrier that Academy voters refused to approach in the past. The “Narcos” and “Civil War” actor has overcome his own boundaries to success, having played an essential role in the growing global success of Brazilian — and, more widely, South American — cinema. Stay tuned for the next lap — after winning the Golden Globe for best actor in a drama, Moura may overtake Chalamet in March.

Then, there’s Michael B. Jordan trailing Moura in third. Jordan played not one, but two characters in “Sinners” this past April: twins Smoke and Stack. It was no easy endeavor bringing the complex dichotomy of these brothers to life; the “Creed” and “Black Panther” actor certainly knows how to put on a show. Thanks to heavy press campaigns for Ryan Coogler’s horror-drama, it is not out of the cards that Jordan receives his due prize. And honestly, it would be pretty awesome to see him put his vampire-hunting skills to the test on Academy turf. 

Next up is little Timmy Tim’s father figure, the one and only ‘90s icon DiCaprio, who has finally arrived — albeit spiritually — at his parental days. Certainly a cause for some cake, specifically the kind that Sabrina Carpenter served up on her 25th birthday. The legacy actor is solidly in fourth place for his performance as the joke-cracking revolutionary and father Bob Ferguson in “One Battle After Another.” Given his legendary status and admirable Academy Award history — eight nominations and one best actor statue for his role in “The Revenant” — he could surpass Chalamet and win gold. However, as most parents do, he’ll probably sit back and watch the younger generation win on the big stage this year.

In fifth and last place is the wonderful Ethan Hawke. His recent performance as lyricist Lorenz Hart in “Blue Moon” deserves all of its critical acclaim. However, the film’s collective buzz has been outshone by more prominent nominees — hence the gap between Hawke and Chalamet. Still, the “Dead Poets Society” actor has other factors going for him; like several other Oscar nominees, he has had numerous other award-worthy performances. I project Hawke in last place simply because I have always considered him an underdog among his peers. Perhaps the legend will climb similar heights faced by his “Blue Moon” character and win it big.

Speaking of legends and lyrics being sung blue, the final acting race will kick off any second now. Kate Hudson is almost Oscar famous; she’s finally in the best actress mix for her performance in “Song Sung Blue.”