Oscar predix 12: The Best Pictures

And now on to the best film awards...

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


I was going to do a breakdown of a for and against for each picture, but what would be the point? The Artist is the heaviest favorite to win in some time. If it doesn't win, I'll be shocked. And even a little mad, since it's my favorite of the lot.

Will/should win: The Artist 

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








Barring an upset by the two small-studio films, I think this is pretty clearly Rango's. And I have a question for the Academy. Cars 2 is certainly not up to Pixar's high standards.  But are the DreamWorks sequels Kung Fu Panda 2 and Puss in Boots REALLY better?

Will/should win: Rango.


Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated
 
This one is a bit of a toss-up, as I can see any number of the contenders winning. I'm going to place my best with the case that received the most publicity - the freeing of the West Memphis Three, as chronicled in the Paradise Lost films.

Best Foreign Language Film
Bullhead (Belgium)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)

Praise for A Separation has been SO sky high, I think it's the likely victor.

I'll be posting on Facebook and maybe tweeting too live as the show goes on.  Feel free to join me for random attempts at hilarity and insight!