Oscar Predictions: Best Visual Effects

Last year’s nominees: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Iron Man

This year’s seven finalists: Avatar, Star Trek, District 9, 2012, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Terminator Salvation

The rundown: There shouldn’t be much competition in this category, since “Avatar” has it sewn up and should definitely be joined by “Star Trek” and “District 9.” The first “Transformers” film famously lost in 2007 to “The Golden Compass,” but that shouldn’t disqualify it since the second “Pirates of the Caribbean” film won after the first film lost. I don’t see much chance for an upset besides that or “2012,” and not a strong shot for either one.

Forecasted winner: Avatar