Best Picture
What Will Win: The King’s Speech
What Should Win: Toy Story 3
Why? The race seems to be between a king and the geeks, but with the DGA, PGA, and SAG Best Picture awards under its belt, The King’s Speech is the front runner. The Academy also has a thing for good old fashioned feel good movies.
However, The Social Network is generally regarded as the best film of the year and, 12 months ago, the Academy members voted for The Hurt Locker, the film generally regarded as the best film of its year, so The King’s Speech is not quite a lock yet. Other aspects The Social Network has going for it are that Mark Zuckerberg was voted Man of the Year by TIME magazine and Facebook recently helped the first ever electronic revolution in Egypt.
Still, if I know anything about the Academy, it’s that they go with their hearts not their brains. Remember when Rocky won over Taxi Driver? Or Shakespeare in Love over Saving Private Ryan? Or… I have a word limit and I plan on sticking to it.
Best Director
Who Should Will Win: David Fincher for The Social Network
Who Should Win: David Fincher for The Social Network
Why? In this category Academy members tend to get it right. Fincher has the veteran card and Hooper has the DGA Best Director Award. Fincher has been nominated, before while Hooper is new to the game. I know one of the riskiest Oscar wagers is to bet on a Best Picture / Director split, but it seems that this year more than ever a split is due. Like with Shakespeare in Love and Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator and Traffic, Chicago and The Pianist, Crash and Brokeback Mountain all the signs point to such a split. Soon we’ll be able add The King’s Speech and The Social Network to this list.
Best Actor
Who Will Win: Colin Firth for The King’s Speech
Who Should Win: Colin Firth for The King’s Speech
Why? This is pretty much a lock and I’m sure Firth is already preparing his acceptance speech. The only thing that worries me is the sudden surprise appearance of Bardem with his Cannes Film Festival Best Actor win. Nobody saw it coming – and a surprise nomination could turn into a surprise win. But I doubt it will. Firth is winning this one.
Best Actress
Who Will Win: Natalie Portman for Black Swan
Who Should Win: Jennifer Lawrence for Winter’s Bone
Why? It’s hard to argue against Portman in Black Swan and she looks like she’ll be an Oscar-winner this time next week. Bening could somehow influence voters with her veteran card but I don’t see it happening to any effect. I hope the two will split votes and Lawrence will be the surprise winner.
Best Supporting Actor
Who Will Win: Christian Bale for The Fighter
Who Should Win: John Hawkes for Winter’s Bone
Why? It’s another of those two horse races; I hope for a split in the voting and a surprise win for Hawkes.
Best Supporting Actress
Who Will Win: Melissa Leo in The Fighter
Who Should Win: Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom
Why? All signs point to Leo, but the Academy loves the chance to reward two lead performances within a year, so Hailee Steinfeld (who is nominated here, but really plays the lead in True Grit) may win, even though Weaver impressed me more than either.
Best Original Screenplay
Who Will Win: David Seidler for The King’s Speech
Who Should Win: Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg for The Kids Are Alright
Best Adapted Screenplay
Who Will Win: Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network
Who Should Win: Aaron Sorkin for The Social Network
Best Editing
Who Will Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter for The Social Network
Who Should Win: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter for The Social Network
Best Cinematography
Will Win: Roger Deakins for True Grit
Should Win: Roger Deakins for True Grit
Best Art Direction
Who Will Win: Wally Pfister for Inception
Best Sound Mixing
Who Will Win: Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley for The King’s Speech
Best Sound Editing
Who Will Win: Richard King for Inception
Best Costume Design
Who Will Win: Colleen Atwood for Alice in Wonderland
Who Should Win: Jenny Beaven for The King’s Speech
Best Music – Original Score
Who Will Win: Alexandre Desplat for The King’s Speech
Best Music - Original Song
Who Will Win: ‘If I Rise’ from 127 Hours – Music by A.R. Rahman; Lyrics by Dido and Rollo Armstrong
Best Live Action Short
What Will Win: Na Wewe
Best Animated Short
What Will Win: Day & Night
Best Documentary Short
What Will Win: Poster Girl
Best Documentary
What Will Win: Exit Through the Gift Shop
Best Animated Film
What Will Win: Toy Story 3
Best Visual Effects
Who Will Win: Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb for Inception
Best Makeup
What Will Win: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey for The Wolfman
Best Foreign Language Film
Source : http://www.spectator.co.uk/arts-and-culture/touching-from-a-distance/6728758/and-the-oscar-will-go-to.thtml
