Final Oscar Predictions

Oscar nominations are being announced tomorrow, and I’m hoping for some excitement. The uncertain number of Best Picture nominees means there could be some major surprises – inclusion or omissions – and that’s only the beginning. It’s unclear whether the films that have generally been ignored up until now, namely “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” and “The Tree of Life,” can manage to break into more than just a few technical categories. I’m hoping that “Drive” will have a better showing than I’m predicting, and otherwise I feel like I have no clue what shocks are lying in wait. I’m forecasting a Glenn Close snub and a Max Von Sydow inclusion, and aside from that, I’m hoping for some pleasant surprises. I’m assuming that “The Artist” is going to be the nominations leader, followed closely by “Hugo” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Click on category headings for full analysis of each race. As always, expect updates by category throughout the day starting tomorrow morning follow the nominations announcement, and leave your predictions in the comments!

No guts, no glory predictions:
“Drive” for Best Picture
Judy Greer for Best Supporting Actress for “The Descendants”
“Fast Five” for Best Film EDiting

Best Picture
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
David Fincher (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)

Best Actor in a Leading Role
George Clooney (The Descendants)
Leonardo DiCaprio (J. Edgar)
Jean Dujardin (The Artist)
Michael Fassbender (Shame)
Brad Pitt (Moneyball))

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Viola Davis (The Help)
Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Tilda Swinton (We Need to Talk About Kevin)
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Albert Brooks (Drive)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
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
50/50
Midnight in Paris
Win Win
Young Adult

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
Hugo
Moneyball

Best Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
The Tree of Life

Best Art Direction
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Best Costume Design
Anonymous
The Artist
The Help
Hugo
Jane Eyre

Best Film Editing
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball

Best Original Score
The Artist
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
War Horse

Best Original Song
"Lay Your Head Down” (Albert Nobbs)
"Star Spangled Man” (Captain America: The First Avenger)
"Bridge of Light” (Happy Feet Two)
"The Living Proof” (The Help)
"Life's a Happy Song” (The Muppets)

Best Sound
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

Best Sound Editing
The Adventures of Tintin
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

Best Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Hugo
The Iron Lady

Best Visual Effects
Captain America: The First Avenger
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
X-Men: First Class

Best Animated Feature
The Adventures of Tintin
Cars 2
Happy Feet Two
Puss in Boots
Rango


Best Documentary Short Film
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
In Tahrir Square: 18 Days of Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution
Incident in New Baghdad
Pipe Dreams
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Best Animated Short Film
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mrs. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
Magic Piano
Paths of Hate

Best Live Action Short Film
Je Pourrais Être Votre Grand-Mère
Love at First Sight
The Road Home
The Roar of the Sea
The Shore

Best Documentary
Bill Cunningham New York
If a Tree Falls
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Semper Fi: Always Faithful

Best Foreign Language Film
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
Pina
A Separation