2012 Oscars: Our predictions

The nominees: The Artist, The Descendants, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Help, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, Moneyball, The Tree of Life, War Horse

Will win: The Artist

It’s a foregone conclusion. Anything else winning would equal an upset of seismic proportions.

Should win: The Tree of Life

Along with The Artist, it’s the only film that truly distinguishes itself from the rest of the field. Grand, ambitious, heartbreakingly gorgeous – the academy hasn’t had the pleasure of a film of this stature in a long time.

The 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

Will win: Viola Davis

She made audiences ugly-cry as the discriminated against maid Aibileen. Even Meryl Streep would happily give the award to Viola.

Should win: Meryl Streep

The Academy loves Meryl, of course, who doesn’t? But it looks as if we’ll have to wait at least another year for them to make up for choosing Sandra Bullock over her in 2010. Michelle Williams' day will surely come soon too.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees: Demián Bichir - A Better Life, George Clooney - The Descendants, Jean Dujardin - The Artist, Gary Oldman - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Brad Pitt - Moneyball

Will win: Jean Dujardin

Should win: Gary Oldman

Amazingly, this is the veteran Brit actor’s very first Oscar nomination.

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

The nominees: Bérénice Bejo - The Artist, Jessica Chastain - The Help, Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids, Janet McTeer - Albert Nobbs, Octavia Spencer The Help

Will win: Octavia Spencer

Should win: Octavia Spencer

The other nominees will just have to live with the honour of being nominated this time around.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

The nominees: Kenneth Branagh - My Week with Marilyn, Jonah Hill – Moneyball, Nick Nolte – Warrior, Christopher Plummer – Beginners, Max von Sydow - Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Will win: Jonah Hill…

I kid! This is Christopher Plummer’s first Oscar to lose. Nobody knows what Jonah Hill is doing amongst this esteemed field.

Should win: Nick Nolte

Tough favourite to pick, but I’ll go with my sentimental favourite. His performance as a recovering alcoholic battling to reunite with his UFC fighter sons was devastating. Great to see he got a nod!

Will win: Michel Hazanavicius

Should win: Terrence Malick  

The Academy hardly strays too far off the reservation in terms of awarding Best Director to their Best Picture winner as well. It makes sense, but usually kills the suspense rather early on in the ceremony.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The nominees: Woody Allen - Midnight in Paris, JC Chandor - Margin Call, Asghar Farhadi - A Separation, Michel Hazanavicius - The Artist, Kristen Wiig & Annie Mumulo - Bridesmaids
Will win: Woody Allen
Should win: Woody Allen

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The nominees: George Clooney, Beau Willimon & Grant Heslov - The Ides of March, Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne & Jim Rash - The Descendants, John Logan - Hugo, Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan - Tinker, Tailor Soldier Spy, Aaron Sorkin, Steven Zaillian & Stan Chervin - Moneyball
Will win: The Descendants
Should win: Moneyball

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

The nominees: A Cat in Paris, Chico & Rita, Kung Fu Panda 2, Puss in Boots, Rango

Will win: Rango

Should win: Rango

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

The nominees: Bullhead – Belgium, Footnote – Israel, In Darkness – Poland, Monsieur Lazhar – Canada, A Separation - Iran

Will win: A Separation

Should win: A Separation

It’s the only movie anyone’s talking about.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The nominees: John Williams - The Adventures of Tintin, Ludovic Bource - The Artist, Howard Shore – Hugo, Alberto Iglesias - Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, John Williams  - War Horse

Will win: Ludovic Bource

Should win: Howard Shore

John Williams is likely to split the votes to himself and make way for the more fancied Bource take the honours.

The nominees: Man or Muppet from The Muppets Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie, Real in Rio from Rio Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

Will win: Bret McKenzie

Should win: Bret McKenzie

Yep, just the two nominees because the Academy would like you to know that they have standards now. Though how awesome would it be to see one half of the Flight of the Conchords win an Oscar?