Academy Awards 2012 Predictions:

Best Picture: I’m rooting for “The Artist”, movie event of the year without any doubt, and I think that it is also the most likely to win for the same reason. The other movies are all pretty interesting, but I don’t think there is a close second to “The Artist” who might actually get a chance to win. They are all good (well… almost), but all equally good, without one really emerging over the others.

Actor in a leading role: I’m rooting for Jean Dujardin and again, I think he is the most likely to win along with George Clooney. Clooney wasn’t half as good as Dujardin, but I fear Academy might want to give it to him. I hope I am wrong and I confirm: rooting for Jean Dujardin; will win Jean Dujardin.

Actress in a leading role: this was the most challenging category this year, in my opinion. Not only all performances were incredibly good, but there are also many others great female performances that didn’t make it to the nominations and who deserved it as much as these ones! Some of these performances were able to make a movie worth of being watched even if it wasn’t great (I’m thinking about “The Iron Lady”, probably “Albert Nobbs” and also “A week with Marilyn”, which is basically based solely on Michelle William’s brilliant performance). I am rooting for Viola Davis, even though there are no words to describe how superb Meryl Streep was. It’s just that I want Viola to be rewarded for her incredible job, because I don’t think she’ll get a chance again as easly as Meryl to prove what a great actress she is. I know that I shouldn’t consider all these aspects (or be like “Meryl already won two and will probably win more in the future”) but in the indecision I’ll root for Viola. Who is going to win? Again, this is probably the hardest one to guess: Meryl or Viola… I’ll say Viola Davis (not winning the Golden Globe is always been good luck to the Oscar so we’ll see!)

Actor in a supporting role: easy. Should win Christopher Plummer, will win Christopher Plummer. To me, it was the best performance in the category and the Academy won’t lose a chance to reward a great and old actor.

Actress in a supporting role: will win Octavia Spencer, I am rooting for Octavia Spencer. The other performances were all equally goodish, besides Melissa McCarty (who was likable and funny, but come on, if a “Bridesmaids” actress should have been necessarily nominated that was Kristen Wiig).

Foreign language film: I only saw “A Separation”, which was terrific AND among my favourite movies of 2011. I am optimistic that the other ones can’t be as good as the iranian movie, and that it will win.

Writing (adapted screenplay): this I am not sure… “Hugo” or “The Descendants” will win and I wouldn’t be opposed at all, both of them were beautifully written! I also liked “The Ides of March”, but it has no chance.

Writing (original screenplay): “Midnight in Paris” will probaly win, I guess (let’s see what excuse they’ll made up for Woody not being there tonight…) I’m rooting for “A Separation” and I’ll say it again: how great is it that this movie made it to this important category?! Iranian movie industry really does feature some of the best, but sadly most neglected, films of our ages.

Cinematography: will win “The Tree of Life”, which I am also rooting for.

Directing: the most likely to win are Michel Hazanavicius and Martin Scorsese. Not really rooting for anyone in particular, I lack the competence to choose; Terrence Malick made the most original and innovative directing in my humble opinion, so maybe I’d pick him. Not sure if it was the best, but the one I preferred for sure. (Can I root for Scorsese just because of this?)