The Road to the Oscars: The Predictions

For some it is a sport played once a year. Trying to predict who will walk away with the golden man. The Oscars provide a
level playing field by striking a fair balance between predictability and upsets. This makes sticking your neck out all the
more fun.

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
Now I haven't seen all the films nominated in this category, but yet, its easy to predict that the winner will be
White Ribbon. No other film has created a buzz like this one.

Best Animated Film of the Year
The only film nomiated in this category and for Best Picture is Up. Directors of the other films need not even show up, let
alone prepare acceptance speeches.

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Its a tough call between Precious and Up in the Air. While my vote goes to the latter, both need to be feted elsewhere as
they will not be wining Best Picture. I am guessing it will be Up in the Air. Precious has other categories where it stands
a better chance.

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen
On any other day, this award should belong to Quentin Tarantino. But his year he is likely to be pipped to the post by Mark
Boal for The Hurt Locker, and deservedly so.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
This award has Mo'Nique written all over it. She is absolutely fabulous as the abusive mother of Precious. Compare her
performance with others nominated in this category and you know they stand no chance.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
Mo'Nique's male counterpart would be Christoph Waltz. His acceptance speech though will have to be shorter than the dialogue
that he has been given in Inglorious Basterds.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
She has won almost all other major awards this year, so the Oscar should be hers for the taking. Experts also give Meryl
Steep an outside chance. But she has won enough already. I wish though that Gabourey Sidibe were to win this won. This may
just be the upset of the evening.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
The trouble with Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart is that whether he is drunk or not, his acting remains the same. Without variation.
Yet, becasue the OScar loves to felicitate old timers, this is going to be his day. By that same logic, it could also have
been Morgan Freeman. It would have made better sense too, but he has won before. Colin Firth, sadly, I haven't seen yet. But
Jeremy Renner and George Clooney will have to wait some more, good though they were. I feel Clooney deserves it this time.
He will win one day, but why not make that day today?

Best Achievement in Directing
Right, so its just between Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker and James Cameron for Avatar. Cameron having served as the
king of this world before will have to make way for Bigelow. As the Academy always likes to do something new each time, this
will be the first instance of a woman winning for Best Director. It will be written about lovingly by the press, just as
Halle Berry winning for Best Actress was made out to be a big deal. But all said and done, if there has to be a first, I cannot
find a better contender.

Best Motion Picture of the Year
I have been racking my head for days over this one. I want The Hurt Locker to win. But then what about the millions spent on
Avatar. Will the Academy choose a middle path by awarding Best Director to Locker and Best Picture to Avatar. Possible. It was
idiotic enough to expand the Best Picture category to include 10 films this year when the world knows that its a two horse
race. I think I'll use some wierd logic here. Avatar will already have won enough on the technical front. So for the final
hurrah for the evening, it will be The Hurt Locker. Cameron can console himself by claiming that his film won the maximum
awards for the evening.