As if you couldn't tell, it's Oscar Day here at Movieline! Hollywood's biggest night is finally -- mercifully -- upon us, and that means it's time for some last minute predictions. You've already read what our eclectic group of celebrities thinks will happen in the Kodak Theater on Sunday night, now take a look at my picks. They're like those celebrity picks, only less cool. To the fun!
BEST PICTURE: At this point, The Fighter might rank as my favorite movie of 2010. And while I think it has a lot of support from the actor's branch of the Academy -- this is based on nothing but the few stars I've seen championing David O. Russell's film on various awards season red carpets -- it probably doesn't have a shot to unseat either The Social Network or The King's Speech for Best Picture. So, it's down to those two: The favorite for most of the calendar year and Harvey Weinstein's latest Oscar thoroughbred. Give me The Social Network, if only because it never stumbled, but only got surpassed by a streaking "audience-friendly" film. Fingers crossed that all the recent King's Speech adulation caused more than a few voters to get turned off.
BEST DIRECTOR: Tom Hooper won the Directors Guild Award in an upset, but I truly have a hard time believing this isn't David Fincher's award. He's "due," as it were, The Social Network is his most mainstream film to-date (even more mainstream than Benjamin Button), and he actually did a fantastic job with the material. Also, judging from the supplemental extras on the DVD, Fincher really helped Aaron Sorkin improve large chucks of the script. Just sayin'.
BEST ACTOR: It won't happen, but why not James Franco? The guy was outstanding in 127 Hours, and participated in the trickiest movie of 2010. He brought humor, pathos, depth and real empathy to the role of Aron Ralston, and never once did I think I was watching "James Franco." With how omnipresent he currently is, that is a major feat. It doesn't matter though, because Colin Firth has already won.
BEST ACTRESS: Do people really think Annette Bening will win? Is that a thing? I don't see it. Prepare to hear Natalie Portman unleash her terrible laugh at you on Sunday night.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Like everyone, I was blown out of the theater by Christian Bale, who turned in the "Heath Ledger Performance" in 2010. (That being: The unstoppable personality who captures the film and award season.) No complaints with Bale winning, but let's pour a little out for Mark Ruffalo. Without his insane charm, The Kids Are All Right would have been unbearable.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Funny thing about Melissa Leo? She wasn't even the best supporting actress in her movie. Or the second best. Or fifth best. Her scenery chewing was fun, but on my scale of awesomeness, she checked in well below both Amy Adams and the Ward Sisters (all of them) on the list of fantastic Fighter women. Assuming Leo and Adams split the vote then, this feels like Hailee Steinfeld's big night. That she's the ostensible lead in True Grit -- that she holds her own opposite Jeff Bridges -- makes her more than a novelty. (If not Hailee, then Movieline-approved upset special Jacki Weaver.)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Lots of worthy candidates here, but despite the fact that David Seidler will probably win for The King's Speech, I'm going with Christopher Nolan for Inception. I had my issues with it, but even haters would have to admit that Nolan's tricky film deserves some non-technical Oscar love. This is the opportunity to do so.
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Have you heard about this movie The Social Network that was written by Aaron Sorkin?
And now for the awards you don't care as much about:
BEST ANIMATED FILM: Toy Story 3
BEST DOCUMENTARY: Inside Job
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Dogtooth
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: Roger Deakins, True Grit
BEST EDITING: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter, The Social Network
BEST ART DIRECTION: Eve Stewart, Judy Farr, The King's Speech
BEST COSTUMES: Jenny Beavan, The King's Speech
BEST SCORE: Hans Zimmer, Inception
BEST ORIGINAL SONG: "I See the Light," Tangled
BEST MAKEUP: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey, The Wolfman
BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley and Peter Bebb, Inception
BEST SOUND EDITING: Richard King, Inception
BEST SOUND MIXING: Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick, Inception
BEST SHORT FILM (Animated): Day and Night
BEST SHORT FILM (Live-action): God of Love