FINAL OSCAR NOMINATION PREDIX 2012...

As always, I will be posting my final nominee predictions, plus 2 alternates, for each category. This is now the 11th years that I've been doing this...kinda weird to think it's been that long. But, the nominations are actually going to be announced in just a couple hours. So...we come to it at last, and without further ado...my final predictions for the 2012 Academy Award race, in 21 of the 24 categories.


BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
As always, unfortunately a few high-profile films were left off the shortlist, particularly Marley, West of Memphis, and The Central Park Five. Many of these choices have been showing up pretty consistently in the precursor awards. It seems at this point that Sugar Man has a bit of a lead, but we'll see how the nominees turn up before jumping to any conclusions. Don't forget Project Nim being left in the dust last year after jumping out to an early lead. Not a weak link in the bunch this year. Ai Weiwei, Plague, Not a Film...all wonderful films that earned good reviews upon release. Also, Bully and Chasing Ice could surprise and show up, even though I'm sticking with these 5. 

Predictions
Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry
The Gatekeepers
How to Survive a Plague
Searching for Sugar Man
This is Not a Film

Alternates
The House I Live In
The Imposter

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
From a long list of 71 eligible submitted films, we have the task of choosing 5 Foreign Language Films for the final list. Regardless of which other 3 get chosen, I would say that "Amour" and "The Intouchables" are the only 2 true locks. A few of the others have shown up from time to time, but it's always anybody's guess in this category.

Predictions
Amour - Austria
The Intouchables - France
Kon-Tiki - Norway  
A Royal Affair - Denmark 
War Witch - Canada

Alternates
Beyond the Hills - Romania 
The Deep - Iceland

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
Every year this category is a complete guessing game. Last year, for the first time in history, they nominated only 2 songs! Here's hoping they go back to the full 5 this year. And with 75 eligible songs to choose from, this is by far one of the toughest categories to attack. If I even get 2 or 3 correct, I'll be happy. It's that kind of year. Also, one of my fav songs that has no chance... "Never Had" from 10 Years. Eh, I'll throw it in as an alternate. Could Katy Perry sneak in wide the very popular "Wide Awake"???

Predictions
"For You" -- Act of Valor
"Learn Me Right" -- Brave
"Skyfall" -- Skyfall
"Song of the Lonely Mountain" -- The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
"Suddenly" -- Les Miserables

Alternates
"Never Had" -- 10 Years
"Still Dream" -- Rise of the Guardians 

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Maestro John Williams should feel secure about another nod in this category, as his work on Lincoln is currently galloping in the frontrunner position. Beyond that...it's another turkey shoot for me.

Predictions
Anna Karenina
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln 
The Master

Alternates
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Cloud Atlas


BEST MAKEUP & HAIRSTYLING
A few big snubs left out of the running, but I'm just hoping to get more than 1 of these correct. For 2 years in a row now, this was my worst category. Come on, lucky 7s!

Predictions
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Lincoln

Alternates
Looper
Snow White and the Huntsman 

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Predictions
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Life of Pi
Marvel's The Avengers
Prometheus

Alternates
Cloud Atlas
Snow White and the Huntsman

BEST SOUND EDITING

Predictions
The Dark Knight Rises
Les Miserables
Marvel's The Avengers
Skyfall
Zero Dark Thirty

Alternates
Life of Pi
Prometheus

BEST SOUND MIXING

Predictions
The Dark Knight Rises
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Zero Dark Thirty

Alternates
Marvel's The Avengers
Skyfall

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Predictions
Anna Karenina
Django Unchained
Les Miserables
Lincoln
Snow White and the Huntsman

Alternates
Cloud Atlas
A Royal Affair
 

BEST ART DIRECTION / PRODUCTION DESIGN

Predictions
Anna Karenina
Cloud Atlas
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Les Miserables
Lincoln

Alternates
Django Unchained
Life of Pi

BEST FILM EDITING

Predictions
Argo
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall
Zerk Dark Thirty

Alternates
Cloud Atlas
The Master

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

Predictions
Anna Karenina
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Skyfall

Alternates
The Master
Zero Dark Thirty

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Predictions
Brave
Frankenweenie
ParaNorman
Rise of the Guardians
Wreck-It Ralph

Alternates
Hotel Transylvania
The Pirates! Band of Misfits

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Predictions
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Life of Pi
Lincoln
Silver Linings Playbook

Alternates
The Dark Knight Rises
The Perks of Being a Wallflower

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Predictions
Django Unchained
Looper
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

Alternates
Amour
Flight


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Predictions
Amy Adams -- "The Master"
Judi Dench -- "Skyfall"
Sally Field -- "Lincoln"
Anne Hathaway -- "Les Miserables"
Helen Hunt -- "The Sessions"

Alternates
Ann Dowd -- "Compliance"
Maggie Smith -- "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Predictions
Alan Arkin -- "Argo"
Robert De Niro -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Philip Seymour Hoffman -- "The Master"
Tommy Lee Jones -- "Lincoln"
Christoph Waltz -- "Django Unchained"

Alternates
Javier Bardem -- "Skyfall" 
Leonardo DiCaprio -- "Django Unchained"

BEST ACTRESS

Predictions
Jessica Chastain -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Marion Cotillard -- "Rust and Bone"
Jennifer Lawrence -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Emmanuelle Riva -- "Amour"
Naomi Watts -- "The Impossible"

Alternates
Helen Mirren -- "Hitchcock"
Quvenzhane Wallis -- "Beasts of the Southern Wild"

BEST ACTOR

Predictions
Bradley Cooper -- "Silver Linings Playbook"
Daniel Day-Lewis -- "Lincoln"
John Hawkes -- "The Sessions"
Hugh Jackman -- "Les Miserables"
Joaquin Phoenix -- "The Master"

Alternates
Richard Gere -- "Arbitrage"
Denzel Washington -- "Flight"

BEST DIRECTOR

Predictions
Ben Affleck -- "Argo"
Paul Thomas Anderson -- "The Master"
Kathryn Bigelow -- "Zero Dark Thirty"
Ang Lee -- "Life of Pi"
Steven Spielberg -- "Lincoln"

Alternates 
Michael Haneke -- "Amour"
Tom Hooper -- "Les Miserables"

BEST PICTURE

Predictions
Amour
Argo
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Les Miserables
Life of Pi
Lincoln
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Silver Linings Playbook
Zero Dark Thirty

Alternates
The Dark Knight Rises
Django Unchained
Looper
Skyfall