Our critics take a crack at predicting the winners and the also-rans
T’CHA DUNLEVY’S PICKS
Best picture Will win: The Artist Should win: The Tree of Life Hollywood won’t be able to resist the romance of a feel-good, silentera film that hearkens back to its heyday; but Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life takes you on a journey in a way few movies can. Best director
Will win: Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Should win: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
If The Artist does indeed take Best Picture, then Payne will take Best Director – otherwise, they’ll flip-flop. But again, Malick is the man. Best actor
Will win: George Clooney, The Descendants
Should win: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Clooney doing tragicomic is a no-brainer, but Dujardin (who took Best Actor at Cannes) makes carrying a silent film look easy. Best actress
Will win: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Should win: Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
If anyone can beat the Streep, it’s Close, who does drag like nobody’s business. Best supporting actor
Will win: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Should win: Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Plummer is vibrant as a senior who comes out of the closet and comes alive, but Hill gets the nerdy insecurity of a numbers man who doesn’t know how smart he is. Best supporting actress
Will win: Jessica Chastain, The Help
Should win: Melissa Mccarthy, Bridesmaids
Chastain is a hoot as a ditzy southern belle in The Help, but Mccarthy steals the show with her gut-busting performance in Bridesmaids.
BILL BROWNSTEIN’S PICKS
Best picture Will win: The Artist Should win: The Tree of Life Silence will be golden in a less than stellar year, but if this honour really is about artistry – and not to detract from that of The Artist – one can’t help but marvel at the magical The Tree of Life. Best director
Will win: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Should win: Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
No small task taking on the iconic likes of Scorsese, Allen and the monk-like Malick, but Hazanavicius has clearly mastered the fine art of walking softly – and silently – and carrying a mighty big stick. Best actor
Will win: George Clooney, The Descendants
Should win: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Closest race of the bunch, but methinks the Hollywood folk will balk at giving all the gold to a French flick and save something for favourite Yankee son Clooney – though far outclassed here by the deft Dujardin. Best actress Will win: Viola Davis, The Help Should win: Viola Davis, The Help
Davis is rock-solid, most deserving and pretty much unstoppable – as Streep and Close cancel one another out with their latest accents – but props must also go to Williams for her moving, fragile Marilyn Monroe. Best supporting actor
Will win: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Should win: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Sentiment may dictate but talent definitely rules here; so get ready to wave your flags Sunday night: the statuette is in the bag, at long last, for the ever-classy and brilliant Canuck Plummer – all the more so since his closest rival, Albert Brooks (Drive) wasn’t even nominated. Best supporting actress
Will win: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Should win: Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
No denying the indomitable Spencer – who has a lock on the prize – but Bejo lights up the screen with the best of them and without words. Nice touch nominating the hysterical Mccarthy (Bridesmaids), but Hollywood would have to freeze …