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:

1. Demian Bichir (‘A Better Life’)
2. George Clooney (‘The Descendants)
3. Jean Dujardin (‘The Artist)
4. Gary Oldman (‘Tinker Tailor Solder Spy’)
5. Brad Pitt (‘Moneyball’)

Fingers-crossed for Gary Oldman!

“Actress in a Leading Role” nominees:

1. Glenn Close (‘Albert Nobbs’)
2. Viola Davis (‘The Help’)
3. Rooney Mara (‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’)
4. Meryl Streep (‘The Iron Lady’)
5. 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!