Anne Hathaway and James Franco host the Academy Awards on Sunday night, where “The King’s Speech” is set to collect the most trophies. Does “The Social Network,” or anything else for that matter, still have a chance at the big prize?
Here are my best educated guesses as to who will win, as well as the nominees for which I’d cast a vote.
Best Picture
“The King’s Speech” won the Screen Actors, Producers and Directors Guild awards. That means it’s all but guaranteed to win the big one. If there’s any surprise, it will be “The Social Network,” the year’s critical darling. Will Win: “The King’s Speech”
Should win: My favorite of the year is still “127 Hours,” but a win for “Toy Story 3” would be an award for the previous installments and the entire Pixar library.Best Actor
Will Win: Colin Firth had this in the bag months ago. Should win: Host James Franco gave the most vital performance to its film.
Best Actress
Will Win: Natalie Portman’s physical transformation in “Black Swan” is probably too showstopping to ignore. Should Win: Annette Bening from “The Kids Are All Right.” She could still sneak in to win.
Best Supporting Actor
Will and Should Win: Christian Bale in “The Fighter.” It’s an unforgettable performance, but Geoffrey Rush could snag the prize if the Academy goes gaga for “King’s Speech.”
Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Melissa Leo from “The Fighter.” Some say Hailee Steinfeld from “True Grit,” but that leading role will suffer from being in the wrong category. Should Win: Steinfeld.
Best Director
Christopher Nolan. Oh wait, he wasn’t even nominated. Should and Will Win: Even if “The Social Network” loses Best Picture, David Fincher probably has enough support (and goodwill from previous films) to win the award.
Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: “The King’s Speech.” Should Win: How is “Inception” NOT the most original screenplay of the year?
Best Adapted Screenplay
Should and Will Win: Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant “Social Network” script.
Documentary
Should and Will Win: “Inside Job,” although wouldn’t it be neat if Banksy’s “Exit Through the Gift Shop” has a surprise victory?
Animated Feature
Should and Will Win: “Toy Story 3.” It has a Best Picture nomination, so anything else winning would be absurd.
Foreign Language Film
No obvious frontrunner here. Safe choice is “Biutiful,” thanks to the presence of Javier Bardem.
Editing
Should and Will Win: “The Social Network”
Cinematography
Should and Will Win: Time for the great Roger Deakins to finally get his due for “True Grit.”
Art Direction
Will Win: “The King’s Speech” Should Win: “Alice in Wonderland”
Costume Design
Should and Will Win: “Alice in Wonderland”
Original Song
Should and Will Win: It may sound like all of his other songs, but Randy Newman’s “We Belong Together” just seems like a safe Oscar bet.
Original Score
Should and Will Win: The innovative and unique “Social Network” score.
Makeup
Should and Will Win: “The Wolfman,” because there’s a lot of makeup in it.
Sound Editing and Mixing
Should and Will Win: Both go to “Inception”
Animated Short
Pixar’s “Day & Night” had a unique spin. Don’t know much about the others.
Documentary Short
Let’s say “Strangers No More,” but really this category can go anywhere.
Live Action Short
“The Confession.” Really, who knows?