Monday Oscar Odds

Full-fledged, extensive Oscar predictions are coming in January, but I’d like to keep a running list of my predicted nominees up until that point, based purely on what we know now and subject to plenty of change. I’ll expand to include other categories later. For this week, I’ll offer revised official predictions for the top eight categories. Predictions will be updated as more awards groups announce. Please chime in the comments with your thoughts!

I’ve been extensively covering awards announcements over at Shockya, so read about the NYFCC & Independent Spirit Awards and the NBR and the Satellite Awards. Those precursors are reflected in the slightly revised predictions below, essentially capturing the downfall of “J. Edgar” and the rise of “Hugo.”


Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Steven Spielberg (War Horse)

Best Actor
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Woody Harrelson (Rampart)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball)

Best Actress
Glenn Close (Albert Nobbs)
Viola Davis (The Help)
Elizabeth Olsen (Martha Marcy May Marlene)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Albert Brooks (Drive)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Brad Pitt (The Tree of Life)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)

Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Shailene Woodley (The Descendants)

Best Original Screenplay
The Artist
Beginners
50/50
Midnight in Paris
Young Adult

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
The Help
Moneyball
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse