The “Best Picture” nominees:
1. The Artist
2. The Descendants
3. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
4. The Help
5. Hugo
6. Midnight in Paris
7. Moneyball
8. The Tree of Life
9. War Horse
I predict ‘The Artist’ to win the Academy Award in the “Best Picture” category this year. The least likely “Best Picture” winners are clearly “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” and ‘Moneyball’.
“Actor in a Leading Role” nominees:

- Demian Bichir (‘A Better Life’)
- George Clooney (‘The Descendants)
- Jean Dujardin (‘The Artist)
- Gary Oldman (‘Tinker Tailor Solder Spy’)
- Brad Pitt (‘Moneyball’)
Fingers-crossed for Gary Oldman!
“Actress in a Leading Role” nominees:

- 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’)
It will be a very close call here. It is the “old school” (Close & Streep) vs. the “new school” (Williams, Mara & Davis). Knowing how hard is it to portray a man though, I will have my fingers crossed for Glenn Close!