Predictions for the 83rd Academy Awards

The glitz, glamour, starlets, paparazzi and a man named Oscar. All of this adds up to one thing: the 83rd Academy Awards. The biggest extravaganza in Tinseltown is on its way back to the famed Kodak Theatre and our television screens. This is what I like to call the Super Bowl for cinephiles. We watch with eagerness and wait for the envelopes to be opened with the hopes that our favorite films of the year will bring home a gold statuette. With the slew of marvelous movies that deserve considerable recognition, I'll be cheering for many of the nominees.

This year, the star-studded ceremony will be hosted by two of Hollywood's best and brightest young stars: Anne Hathaway and James Franco, the latter of who scored a Best Actor nod this year for 127 Hours. The duo of youthful actors will surely bring much of the night's energy. This will be thanked by most viewers who usually think that the 3-hour+ show drags in spots. But given how much I'm devoted to watching the Academy Awards, it can proceed until two in the morning for all I care. Seeing as Franco and Hathaway are just as adroit in doing comedy as drama, we're destined for a memorable show.

2010 brought us everything in film, from a secret team of dream invaders, backstabbing college friends, a mentally-unstable ballerina, a young hiker trapped deep in a canyon, all among other imaginative stories. They all deserve to be awarded; but alas, there are those that strike Oscar gold, and those that go home empty-handed. So here are my picks for who I think will win and who I think should win in the top eight categories.


Best Adapted Screenplay: 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter's Bone

Will Win and Should Win: The Social Network - Right when this film came out, it was unmistakable that this was one category where Aaron Sorkin's genius screenplay would reign supreme. His words jumped off the page, onto the screen and into the minds of the audience where the crisp dialogue stayed long after the credits rolled. The script was anchored by a gifted young cast that delivered their lines with vigor, haste and wit. Oscar night can be unpredictable, but Sorkin is sure to emerge victorious. Even though his fellow nominees are all praiseworthy in their own right, they should throw in the towel right now.


Best Original Screenplay: Another Year, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right and The King's Speech

Will Win: The King's Speech - Tom Hooper's latest achievement has everything that the academy fancies: a story of a character triumphing over a disability, respected British actors and a momentous historical backdrop. It was an irresistible crowd-pleaser about an English monarch attempting to fix his speech impediment while trying to unite his country as they got ready to enter World War 2. It was a poignant journey that was highlighted by moments of light humor, and the scene with King George's final speech was one to embrace and cheer for.

Should Win: Inception - A summer blockbuster that has ample amounts of fine storytelling and dazzling visuals is a rare thing, and Inception carried both. Its twists and turns made it deserving of multiple viewings, and the ambiguous ending instigated numerous conversations. What more could you ask for in a movie? Christopher Nolan gave us a much-needed dose in originality in our action films, and hopefully others will follow in Inception's footsteps.


Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale for The Fighter, John Hawkes for Winter's Bone, Jeremy Renner for The Town, Mark Ruffalo for The Kids Are All Right and Geoffrey Rush for The King's Speech

Will Win and Should Win: Chrstian Bale for The Fighter - In 2010, I never saw an actor throw himself into a role as much as Bale. As the boxer-turned-cocaine addict Dicky Eklund, Bale proved again to be one of the most dedicated actors in the business. He took on a Boston accent so fluently that he came off as an authentic native of the area. He lost weight again for a film role, and was almost unrecognizable with his scrawny appearance. You forgot that this was Christian Bale, but his performance was unforgettable.


Best Supporting Actress: Amy Adams for The Fighter, Helena Bonham Carter for The King's Speech, Melissa Leo for The Fighter, Hailee Steinfeld for True Grit and Jacki Weaver for Animal Kingdom

Will Win and Should Win: Melissa Leo for The Fighter - Her character might not have been a boxer; but Leo as Alice Ward had as much fight in her as her pugilist sons. She was a mother who would do anything for her children's success, and was someone that you certainly wouldn't want to cross paths with. Melissa Leo took the role of a sports mom to an elevated level. Alice exhibited tough love, but it was love nonetheless. She was one hard-hitting firecracker.


Best Actor: Javier Bardem for Biutiful, Jeff Bridges for True Grit, Jesse Eisenberg for The Social Network, Colin Firth for The King's Speech and James Franco for 127 Hours

Will Win and Should Win: Colin Firth for The King's Speech - We're used to watching actors portray famous leaders. What separated Firth's performance from the rest was that it wasn't his subjects that looked to him for help. It was the king that asked for the assistance from one of his subjects. In that, he could be seen as an average person, asking for help just like any other person would, and it’s fascinating. Firth mastered an unfaultable stutter and he easily won us over with our sympathy for his character. His performance was nothing short of regal.


Best Actress: Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right, Nicole Kidman for Rabbit Hole, Jennifer Lawrence for Winter's Bone, Natalie Portman for Black Swan and Michelle Williams for Blue Valentine

Will Win and Should Win: Natalie Portman for Black Swan - As Nina Sayers, a ballerina who's obsessed with being the best dancer she can be, we saw a whole different side to the acting ability of Portman. Similar to what Darren Aronofsky does with his other characters, he showed her character in her lowest and most fragile. I found Natalie Portman's performance symbolic. Nina explored a baleful side of herself that she never thought she had, while Portman expanded her talent as she dove into this physically demanding role. Both character and actor traveled beyond their comfort zone. That's a true test of ability for an actor, and Natalie passed.


Best Director: Darren Aronofsky for Black Swan, Joel and Ethan Coen for True Grit, David Fincher for The Social Network, Tom Hooper for The King’s Speech and David O. Russell for The Fighter

Will Win and Should Win: David Fincher for The Social Network – Fincher is known to be a perfectionist as a director, and films multiple takes of several scenes until he gets what he’s looking for. It’s clear that in his latest film that all of the strenuous work paid off in the end. He skillfully captured both the college world and the business world and didn't leave out any details as he chronicled the origins of Facebook. Fincher easily transported us into the story; and once the film dissolved into the first frame, we were hooked.


Best Picture: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and Winter’s Bone

Will Win: The Social Network – David Fincher’s film has been scooping up nearly every award for the past couple of months. But with The King’s Speech quickly gaining momentum after winning at the Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild and Producers Guild, we might have a race on our hands. Although the academy loves a British drama, I think they will swing more towards The Social Network, which captured a global communication revolution and a defining moment in our culture.

Should Win: Toy Story 3 – As much as I loved The Social Network, my unending admiration of Pixar has gotten the best of me. The movie had a picture perfect ending to end the series, and we couldn’t have asked for anything better. Through all of the laughs and tears, we were with Woody and Buzz until the very end, and it was a valued gift from Pixar. Their imagination is one-of-a-kind. Just like its predecessors, Toy Story 3 is a treasure to be honored as one of the most esteemed in animation and cinema.


So ends my 2010 Oscar predictions. I hope many of them come true, but I also wouldn’t mind a couple of surprises. It could happen, since there have been some nominees that have picked up steam against their competition. Can Annette Bening edge out Natalie Portman? Will Hailee Steinfeld derail Melissa Leo? Can anyone beat Colin Firth? And will The King’s Speech or The Social Network stroll away with the evening’s top prize? There’s only one way to find out. Watch the 83rd Academy Awards on February 27th on ABC at 8:30.