My Attempt at predicting Oscars.

Alright so we have just past the half way point of the film year and we have been treated to some great films so far and some great performances. I will attempt to predict some Oscar categories here for the major categories of Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress, and Best Director. Feel free to give your input everybody on what you think and I will say that my predictions are based on what I have read, seen, and heard so far this year.

Best Picture: Winter`s Bone, this film has gotten mass praise after its victory at Sundance and it has picked up more momentum since then.

Other Nominees:

Blue Valentine, another dramatic film that has people buzzing especially regarding the performances of Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.

Inception, Nolan will get his long time due nomination but unfortunately Inception was not loved enough in order for Academy voters to give it favorable votes.

Shutter Island, although this is not Scorsese`s best it is good enough to warrant a nomination.

Toy Story 3, again this movie does not really stand a chance in this category but it is good enough to get a nomination.

Ghost Writer, similar to Scorses`s situation this is not Roman Polanski`s best work, however, the movie still was very good and it should get a nomination. 

How To Train Your Dragon, this is a longshot prediction for me, I know many people might disagree with me on this one but I really think that due to the great response this movie got as well as how surprisngly good this movie was it might sneak in a nomination.

Best Actor: I am going to predict that Leonardo DiCaprio`s time has come and he will get his Oscar for his lead performance in Shutter Island.

Other Nominees:

Ryan Gosling, based on what I am hearing he was fantastic in Blue Valentine but I just do not see him winning this time around.  His previous work in Half Nelson got a nomination but I think he will be left out again this time around.  

Ewan McGregor, he was fantastic in Ghost Writer and he really should get a nomination here and he has had a great career so far. I think he will get his first nomination.

Michael Caine, even though Caine has two supporting actor Oscar`s he has been open about wanting a best actor Oscar as well. The Academy has always admired the work of Caine and again this might be a long shot prediction but I really think that the Academy will give thumbs up in his performance in Harry Brown.

Best Actress: I am going to say that Catherine Keener will squeak out a win here for her work in Please Give another film that has been overlooked so far this year. Keener has been nominated for supporting roles twice so far in her career, in Capote and Being John Malkovich.

Other Nominees:

Jennifer Lawrence, I think it is safe to say that Hollywood has found a new star on the horizon for Lawrence is only nineteen but yet I have not talked to a single person that has seen Winter`s Bone that has not raved about her talent. Since Winter`s Bone did win at Sudance the Academy will take a serious look at the performances and a nomination is a strong possibility. However, like Gosling, Lawrence is too young and too unknown to win this award.

Michelle Williams, I feel strongly that the performances in Blue Valentine are good enough to warrant both leads getting nominations. I am basing this on what I have heard and read so far this year.

Olivia Williams, she was fantastic in Ghost Writer and her performance is good enough to get a nomination. It also helps her case that she is a Roman Polanski film as well.

Best Director: I am sold that Debra Granik will get best director for Winter`s Bone. I always have strong feelings about Best Picture and Best Director going hand in hand and this time will be no different.

Other Nominees:

Martin Scorsese, the legend will get another nomination for Shutter Island even though the film is not his best work. I know nominations should not be made based on reputation, in this case it will.

Roman Polanksi, like Scorsese his nomination will be reputation based, even though I feel Ghost Writer is a much better film than Shutter Island and it was much better received as well.

Christopher Nolan, Inception is a good enough movie to get a nomination here. Besides the Academy really has overlooked Nolan throughout his career for he continues to make great films.

Derek Cianfrance, again this is a long shot prediction for me. I am predicting that Cianfrance gets the nomination for Blue Valentine because like I mentioned earlier the buzz that this movie is getting right now is crazy. I am a little skeptical though because as of right now Blue Valentine is scheduled to get a limited release.

Thats all folks, again these are just predictions I am not guaranteeing anything. Let me know what you guys think, hopefully my predictions will stir some interesting debates.