This looked like an open race in almost all categories... what happened?

While I still feel that there will be surprises at the ceremony (simply because there are some each year), the Oscar-race seemed to be wide open with no clear favorites in any category about a month ago. Then the nominations happened, and ever since, it looks like it will be Spotlight, DiCaprio, Larson, Vikander and Stallone. While, Best Picture and Best Supporting Actor are still not sure locks, I am pretty sure it will turn out like this with no real surprises.
I just wish, the Academy would have thrown in some other nominees. They should have put both Rooney and Vikander in the Leading Actress category to give Larson some competition and make room for Mirren and Stewart or Walters offering a much more fitting list of Supporting Actress nominees; put Elba in the Supporting Actress competition to make this a three-way battle between him, Stallone and Rylance or giving as nominations for Shannon, Del Toro or Trembley (maybe leaving Ruffalo, Stallone or Bale of the list), making it a competition without a clear favorite. All in all, it is just a boring list, especially compared that there were so many chances to make this a great competition without many clear favorites but rather many individually great and surprising nominations.