Final Oscar Picks!

Ok...here are my final picks....boy...will I be wrong???? I don't know.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

* Javier Bardem in "Biutiful" (Roadside Attractions)
* Jeff Bridges in "True Grit" (Paramount)
* Jesse Eisenberg in "The Social Network" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
* Colin Firth in "The King's Speech" (The Weinstein Company)
* James Franco in "127 Hours" (Fox Searchlight)

SHOULD WIN: James Franco
WILL WIN: Colin Firth

I thought Franco was just amazing in the film. He carried through some difficult moments and really made the film work, withouth him, it would have been difficult. But, Firth is VERY deserving and will win this award tonight.


Performance by an actor in a supporting role

* Christian Bale in "The Fighter" (Paramount)
* John Hawkes in "Winter's Bone" (Roadside Attractions)
* Jeremy Renner in "The Town" (Warner Bros.)
* Mark Ruffalo in "The Kids Are All Right" (Focus Features)
* Geoffrey Rush in "The King's Speech" (The Weinstein Company)

SHOULD WIN: Christian Bale
WILL WIN: Christian Bale

Bale's performance is a knockout in this film and that's not a simple play on words. It really works here and he should be the winner (and that is taking nothing away from the rest of these guys as it's a cool list).


Performance by an actress in a leading role

* Annette Bening in "The Kids Are All Right" (Focus Features)
* Nicole Kidman in "Rabbit Hole" (Lionsgate)
* Jennifer Lawrence in "Winter's Bone" (Roadside Attractions)
* Natalie Portman in "Black Swan" (Fox Searchlight)
* Michelle Williams in "Blue Valentine" (The Weinstein Company)

SHOULD WIN: Natalie Portman
WILL WIN: Natalie Portman

Portman wowed in the film that left a mixed vibe with some out there. Even those that didn't like or didn't get the film...loved her performance in this one. If there is an upset...look at Annette Bening.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

* Amy Adams in "The Fighter" (Paramount)
* Helena Bonham Carter in "The King's Speech" (The Weinstein Company)
* Melissa Leo in "The Fighter" (Paramount)
* Hailee Steinfeld in "True Grit" (Paramount)
* Jacki Weaver in "Animal Kingdom" (Sony Pictures Classics)

SHOULD WIN: Melissa Leo or Hailee Steinfeld or Amy Adams or ALL OF THE ABOVE
WILL WIN: Hailee Steinfeld

I'm calling the upset here. Leo has won a lot of awards coming to this point, and is well deserved to win this as well. The Academy likes to surprise, and I'm thinking this is the one that does it! Hailee is a lead, True Grit took home a number of nominations and they have to win something...this is the one.

Best animated feature film of the year

* How to Train Your Dragon (Paramount) Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
* The Illusionist (Sony Pictures Classics) Sylvain Chomet
* Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney) Lee Unkrich

SHOULD WIN: Toy Story 3
WILL WIN: Toy Story 3

Great movie, I just wish this category would have more titles in it!

Best Documentary Feature

* Exit through the Gift Shop (Producers Distribution Agency) Banksy and Jaimie D'Cruz A Paranoid Pictures Production
* Gasland Josh Fox and Trish Adlesic A Gasland Production
* Inside Job (Sony Pictures Classics) Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs A Representational Pictures Production
* Restrepo (National Geographic Entertainment) Tim Hetherington and Sebastian Junger An Outpost Films Production
* Waste Land Lucy Walker and Angus Aynsley (Arthouse Films) An Almega Projects Production

SHOULD WIN: Restrepo
WILL WIN: Inside Job

This is really wide open, I LOVED Restrepo as I've made very clear here, but I think the winner will be the film about the hot button topic of today, the financial crisis. Watch out for Banksy though.

Adapted screenplay

* 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
* The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing), Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin
* Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Michael Arndt. Story by John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
* True Grit (Paramount), Written for the screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
* Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions), Adapted for the screen by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

SHOULD WIN: Aaron Sorkin
WILL WIN: Aaron Sorkin

One of the dead certain locks of the night.

Original screenplay

* Another Year (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Mike Leigh
* The Fighter (Paramount), Screenplay by Scott Silver and Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson. Story by Keith Dorrington & Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson
* Inception (Warner Bros.), Written by Christopher Nolan
* The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features), Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
* The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Seidler

SHOULD WIN: Christopher Nolan
WILL WIN: David Seidler

When will the wonderful Christopher Nolan ever get the respect he deserves?

Achievement in directing

* Black Swan (Fox Searchlight), Darren Aronofsky
* The Fighter (Paramount), David O. Russell
* The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company), Tom Hooper
* The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing), David Fincher
* True Grit (Paramount), Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

SHOULD WIN: David Fincher
WILL WIN: David Fincher

Dang nabbit...I'm picking Fincher, despite everyone thinking this will go to Tom Hooper.

Best motion picture of the year

* Black Swan (Fox Searchlight)
* The Fighter (Paramount)
* Inception (Warner Bros.)
* The Kids Are All Right (Focus Features)
* The King's Speech (The Weinstein Company)
* 127 Hours (Fox Searchlight)
* The Social Network (Sony Pictures Releasing)
* Toy Story 3 (Walt Disney)
* True Grit (Paramount)
* Winter's Bone (Roadside Attractions)

SHOULD WIN: The Fighter
WILL WIN: The Social Network

The Fighter was my favorite film this year. But, alas, this is a two horse race between The Social Network and The King's Speech. Everyone says this will be The King's Speech, everyone...even people that prefer The Social Network. But I'll throw it out there...maybe I'll be wrong, but Hollywood will recognize the film of the generation. Please...please....

That's it...how wrong will I be? We'll see soon.... And the Oscar Goes to....
Save Me A Seat!