Experts slugfest mailbag: Ridley Scott, predicting the big Oscar snubs, and Kelly Clarkson as host?

Could Ridley Scott ride an overdue narrative to an Oscar win? Who or what will be the shocking snub or nomination this season? Gold Derby editors and experts Christopher Rosen and Joyce Eng are here to answer your burning questions of the week.

Since “Gladiator II” has screened for press this week, Scott has surged to sixth place in the Best Director odds. The four-time Oscar nominee has an inconsistent track record at the Oscars and was surprisingly snubbed the last time he was firmly in a race, for 2015’s “The Martian.” But in a field that lacks a marquee name of the top contenders and with the possibility of “Dune: Part Two’s” Denis Villeneuve being snubbed again, will voters feel inclined to vote for the soon-to-be 87-year-old?

SEE Experts slugfest mailbag: ‘Saturday Night,’ ‘Here,’ and a third Oscar for Denzel Washington?

Scott’s snub for “The Martian” was one of the shockers that nomination morning. Who or what film could join that dubious club that includes the likes of Amy Adams (“Arrival”) this year? One the flip side, who or what could pull off a totally unexpected nomination like LaKeith Stanfield did for “Judas and the Black Messiah” (category swap not required)?

Elsewhere, we discuss why the Golden Globes doesn’t need extra categories, Kelly Clarkson as a possible Oscar host, and more.

Email your questions to slugfests@goldderby.com.

Timestamps:
Intro and extra Golden Globe categories (0:00)
“Dune: Part Two’s” ineligible score (2:58)
“Gladiator II” (5:33)
Paul Mescal (8:30)
Ridley Scott overdue narrative? (12:44)
LFF recap (18:10)
Oscar hypotheticals (24:05)
Predicting snubs and surprises (27:59)
“September 5” and Jesse Eisenberg (36:14)
“The Seed of the Sacred Fig” and “The Room Next Door” (42:11)
NYFF (48:17)
Plotholes (49:15)
“The Last Showgirl” and Kelly Clarkson as Oscar host? (52:37)
“I’m Still Here” (56:35)
World Series (58:34)