OSCAR PREDICTIONS: ‘The Artist’ is ready for a big night

Nominations: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Tree of Life

Possible Upset: The Help

BEST LEAD ACTOR

Nominations: Demián Bichir, A Better Life • George Clooney, The Descendants• Jean Dujardin, The Artist • Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy • Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Will Win: George Clooney

Should Win: George Clooney

Possible Upset: Jean Dujardin

BEST LEAD ACTRESS

Nominations: Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs • Viola Davis, The Help • Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo • Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady • Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Will Win: Viola Davis

Should Win: Viola Davis

Possible Upset: Meryl Streep

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominations: Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn • Jonah Hill, Moneyball • Nick Nolte, Warrior • Christopher Plummer, Beginners • Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Will Win: Christopher Plummer

Should Win: Christopher Plummer

Possible Upset: Max von Sydow

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominations: Bérénice Bejo, The Artist • Jessica Chastain, The Help • Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids • Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs • Octavia Spencer, The Help

Will Win: Octavia Spencer

Should Win: Octavia Spencer

Possible Upset: Bérénice Bejo

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominations: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris • Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist • Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life • Alexander Payne, The Descendants • Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius

Should Win: Terrence Malick

Possible Upset: Martin Scorsese

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Nominations: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist • Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, Bridesmaids • J.C. Chandor, Margin Call • Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris • Asghar Farhadi, A Separation

Will Win: Woody Allen

Should Win: J.C. Chandor

Possible Upset: Michel Hazanavicius

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Nominations: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants • John Logan, Hugo • George Clooney, Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon, The Ides of March • Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Moneyball • Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Will Win: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Should Win: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Possible Upset: Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Nominations: A Cat in Paris, Chico & Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Rango

Will Win: Rango

Should Win: Rango

Possible Upset: Puss in Boots

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

Nominations: Bullhead, Footnote, In Darkness, Monsieur Lazhar, A Separation

Will Win: A Separation

Should Win: A Separation

Possible Upset: Bullhead

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Nominations: The Artist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, The Tree of Life, War Horse

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Tree of Life

Possible Upset: The Tree of Life

BEST EDITING

Nominations: The Artist, The Descendants, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: Hugo

Possible Upset: Hugo

BEST ART DIRECTION

Nominations: The Artist, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, War Horse

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: Hugo

Possible Upset: Hugo

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Nominations: Anonymous, The Artist, Hugo, Jane Eyre, W.E.

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist

Possible Upset: Hugo

BEST MAKEUP

Nominations: Albert Nobbs, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, The Iron Lady

Will Win: The Iron Lady

Should Win: The Iron Lady

Possible Upset: Albert Nobbs

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

Nominations: The Adventures of Tintin, The Artist, Hugo, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, War Horse

Will Win: The Artist

Should Win: The Artist

Possible Upset: Hugo

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

Nominations: “Man or Muppet from The Muppets • “Real in Rio” from Rio

Will Win: The Muppets

Should Win: The Muppets

Possible Upset: Rio

BEST SOUND MIXING

Nominations: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Moneyball, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, War Horse

Will Win: Hugo

Should Win: Hugo

Possible Upset: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

BEST SOUND EDITING

Nominations: Drive, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, War Horse

Will Win: Hugo

Should Win: Hugo

Possible Upset: Transformers: Dark of the Moon

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Nominations: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, Hugo, Real Steel, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Will Win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Should Win: Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Possible Upset: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

Nominations: Hell and Back Again, If a Tree Falls: The Story of the Earth Liberation Front, Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, Pina, Undefeated

Will Win: Pina

Should Win: Hell and Back Again

Possible Upset: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT

Nominations: The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement, God is the Bigger Elvis, Incident in New Baghdad, Saving Face, The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Will Win: God is the Bigger Elvis

BEST SHORT FILM ANIMATED

Nominations: Dimanche, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, La Luna, A Morning Stroll, Wild Life

Will Win: A Morning Stroll

BEST SHORT FILM LIVE ACTION

Nominations: Pentecost, Raju, The Shore, Time Freak, Tuba Atlantic

Will Win: The Shore

TOTAL NOMINATIONS:

Hugo, 11

The Artist, 10

Moneyball, 6

War Horse, 6

The Descendants, 5

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, 5

The Help, 4

Midnight in Paris, 4

The Tree of Life, 3

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, 3

Albert Nobbs, 3

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II, 3

Transformers: Dark of the Moon, 3

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, 2

The Iron Lady, 2

My Week with Marilyn, 2

Bridesmaids, 2

A Separation, 2

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com