Recent festival premieres and early critical consensus have positioned John Malkovich in “Wild Horse Nine,” Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” and Andrew Scott in “Elsinore” as the clearest frontrunners for Best Actor nominations at the 99th Oscars. Malkovich’s overdue status and Martin McDonagh’s track record with acting contenders bolster his momentum following the film’s November release, while Damon benefits from the epic’s scale and Universal’s expanding awards push. Andrew Scott’s turn in the Hamlet-themed drama adds another strong contender ahead of its late-November debut. Ryan Gosling in “Project Hail Mary” and John Turturro in “The Only Living Pickpocket in New York” round out the top tier based on tracking and precursor buzz. Traders will watch guild nominations and critics’ awards in December and January for shifts before voting closes.