Oscar Predictions/ Wishful Thinking For 2012

Again, I have not seen a lot of these movies, so a lot of my predictions are based on previous praise and my best guesses, as well as trailers and photos. I hope to see a lot of them (like The Artist, The Descendants, etc.) before Oscar time, but for now, here are my predictions for the 2012 Academy Awards.

Bolded means what I think will win
Underlined means what I think could win
Red text means a possible dark horse


*Oh, and I'm not going to moan about Drive not being nominated, because I haven't seen it. I'm sure it's good, but just because the Academy doesn't recognize something doesn't mean it isn't any good. It will go on to be remembered in its own right, as a cult classic that will be adored by future film buffs. Besides, I figured the snubbing would happen, I just figured it would happen to Tree of Life as well, and I was very clearly wrong about that.

BEST PICTURE

The Artist
The Descendants
Midnight in Paris
Hugo
The Help
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

BEST ACTOR

Jean Dujardin- The Artist
George Clooney- The Descendants
Brad Pitt- Moneyball
Gary Oldman- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Demian Bechir- A Better Life
 
BEST ACTRESS

Viola Davis- The Help
Meryl Streep- The Iron Lady
(it could go to either Viola or Meryl)
Rooney Mara- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Michelle Williams- My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close- Albert Nobbs

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Christopher Plummer- Beginners
Kenneth Branagh- My Week With Marilyn
Nick Nolte- Warrior
Jonah Hill- Moneyball
Max von Sydow- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Octavia Spencer- The Help
Jessica Chastain- The Help
Janet McTeer- Albert Nobbs
Berenice Bejo- The Artist
Melissa McCarthy- Bridesmaids
 
BEST DIRECTOR

Woody Allen- Midnight in Paris (a screenplay win seems more likely)
Alexander Payne- The Descendants
Michel Hazanavicius- The Artist
Martin Scorsese- Hugo
Terrence Malick- The Tree of Life

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball (Sorkin. That is all.)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Midnight in Paris
Bridesmaids
The Artist
Margin Call
A Separation

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Rango
Puss in Boots
Kung Fu Panda 2
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Adventures of Tintin
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

"Man or Muppet"
"Real in Rio"

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

War Horse
The Artist
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
 Hugo
The Tree of Life


BEST EDITING

The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Moneyball
Hugo

BEST ART DIRECTION

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt II
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

BEST SOUND MIXING

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse

BEST SOUND EDITING

The Artist
Hugo
Drive
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt II
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon

BEST MAKEUP

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt II
The Iron Lady
Albert Nobbs