OSCAR NODS AND PREDICTIONS

Let's take a quick look at the Oscar nods:

Best Picture
"The Artist"
"The Descendants"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"Hugo"
"Midnight in Paris"
"The Help"
"Moneyball"
"War Horse"
"The Tree of Life"

Should win-The Artist
Will Win-The Artist

A silent picture in today's age is something to see and admire. Why Incredibly Loud is in there is anybody's guess but I'm thinking blackmail because that movie sucked and sucked hard making it this year's Winter's Bone, a film I don't know anyone who liked it. I have not seen Hugo or War Horse yet but I hear both are excellent, especially Hugo which had the misfortune to come out the same weekend as the Muppets, which should be on that list along with the last Harry Potter. Moneyball was great but not an Oscar nominee for Best Picture. Likewise with the brilliant but flawed Tree of Life which should be up for best directing, but let's face facts: it was pretentious, especially the last incomprehensible ten minutes. No film that isn't perfect should be up for Best Picture. Was this honestly better than Harry Potter, the Muppets, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and, Bridesmaids? No. And it is this disconnect between the nominees and films people actually watch that is killing both the awards and the film industry.

Best Actor
Demian Bichir, "A Better Life"
George Clooney, "The Descendants"
Jean Dujardin, "The Artist"
Gary Oldman, "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy"
Brad Pitt, "Moneyball"

Should win-George Clooney
Will win-Jean Dujardin

At a lose to explain why Michael Fassbender is not on the list. And who the hell is Demian Bichir? By the way, the movie "A Better Life", about Mexican immigrants died in the box office. Shocker. Ryan Gosling was another snub for a great year of brilliant performances like Drive and Ides of March.

Best Actress
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."

Should win-Rooney Mara
Will Win-Viola Davis

Mara was brilliant in Tattoo and Streep will suffer another loss for doing a great performance in a so so movie. Viola Davis will sneak by as a result just like the SAG awards. Wiig was robbed in this category for Bridesmaids, but I have to admit this was tough competition.

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, "My Week With Marilyn"
Jonah Hill, "Moneyball"
Nick Nolte, "Warrior"
Christopher Plummer, "Beginners"
Max Von Sydow, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"

Should win-Christopher Plummer
Will win- Christopher Plummer

Why the hell is Nick Nolte on the is list for the sub par Warrior and Albert Brooks not for "Drive." Stupid Academy. Very leery about Von Sydow's silent performance getting an Oscar nod as well. Where the hell is Alan Rickman for Harry Potter for God's sake?

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, "The Artist"
Jessica Chastain, "The Help"
Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids"
Janet McTeer, "Albert Nobbs"
Octavia Spencer, "The Help"

Should win-Melissa McCarthy
Will win-Octavia Spencer

She was really good in the Help but I loved McCarty's fearless role in Bridesmaids.

Best Director
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Terrence Malick, "The Tree of Life"
Alexander Payne, "The Descendants"
Martin Scorsese, "Hugo"

Should win-The Tree of Life
Will win-Hugo

Hard to beat the greatest director alive today and I think Scorsese will win big in this award, splitting from best picture win The Artist. Tree of Life may have been flawed but it was the best directed movie I saw all year.

Best Original Screenplay
Woody Allen, "Midnight in Paris"
JC Chandor, "Margin Call"
Asghar Farhadi, "A Separation"
Michel Hazanavicius, "The Artist"
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, "Bridesmaids"

Should win-Woody Allen
Will win-The Artist

Midnight in Paris was one of the best movies I saw all year and Woody Allen's best movie in decades. But I have a feeling the Artist is going to get a lot of love at the Oscars. I can also hope for Bridesmaids in an upset.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxton, Jim Rash, "The Descendants"
John Logan, "Hugo"
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, "The Ides of March"
Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian, "Moneyball"
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughn, "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

Should win-the Descendants
Will win-the Descendenats

Great movie, great screenplay. Hugo is only possible upset in this category. Plus we'll get to see the Dean from community win an Oscar if the Descendants pull it out.

Best Animated Feature
"A Cat In Paris"
"Chico & Rita"
"Kung Fu Panda 2"
"Puss in Boots"
"Rango"

Should win- Don't care but I'll say Puss In Boots.
Will win-Puss in Boots

Only saw two of these nominees, Kung Fu Panda and Rango, and thought both were okay. Snubbed were Tintin and Winnie the Poo. Don't really care who wins this and have nothing to go on but gut feeling.

Tune in later and see how I did in my Predictions.