From the uplift of "The Help" and "The Descendants," to the grit of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" to the grace of "Hugo," there is a bevy of possible best picture nominees for every size and style. But which will be honored?
The silent charm and black and white elegance of "The Artist" - a classy, witty throwback to Hollywood's golden age that's anything but uniform - figures to enjoy multiple nominations. The film took home the Best Picture - Musical or Comedy award at the Golden Globes last week, and the film's French star Jean Dujardin won the Best Actor gong at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival - both good signs that the film will clean up in Oscar nods.
Another top contender should be Alexander Payne's "The Descendants." The George Clooney family comedy-drama has been a critic's darling since it debuted, and writer-director Payne has seen his previous efforts "About Schmidt" and "Sideways" clean-up during awards seasons. Clooney also looks like a lock to receive a Best Actor nod, while young ingénue Shailene Woodley has already taken home a handful of critics' awards for her role as the daughter of Clooney's cuckolded land baron.
Along with Clooney's inevitable Best Actor nomination, Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt ("Moneyball") and Leonardo DiCaprio ("J. Edgar") are safe bets, but the real question seems to be which leading men will fill out the category. Will it be Gary Oldman, for his understated turn in the British spy thriller "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy?" Believe it or not, the veteran actor has yet to receive a nod from the Academy. Other possibilities include Michael Fassbender for "Shame," Ryan Gosling for "The Ides of March," and Jean Dujardin for the aforementioned "The Artist."
As for this year's Best Actress nominees, there's one word on everyone's lips: Meryl. Streep is now looking at her 17 th Oscar nomination for her portrayal of British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady," and the actress, essentially considered a living legend, has not won in nearly 30 years. She does face come stiff competition, notably from the ladies from "The Help." Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain - who starred in an astounding six feature films in 2011 - could give Streep a run for her money, as could Michelle Williams as the lead in "My Week with Marilyn."
The supporting actor prizes should see some older actors who played out of their normal range finally get their due, like Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Albert Brooks for "Drive." These categories also look to young, new talent, so "The Descendants'" Woodley or Asa Butterfield from "Hugo" might hear their names called.
As for the big prize, a total of 10 films will again be competing. Some are shoe-ins ("The Artist," "The Descendants") while others are likely bets ("War Horse," Hugo"). But with 10 nominees, there is room for some surprises, be they artier fare like "The Tree of Life" or a megahit like "Bridesmaids."
If the Golden Globes are any predictor of Hollywood's big prize, the Academy's love for big stars and fresh talent is certain to be spread around.
The 84 th annual Academy Awards will be held on February 26.
Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Best Actor
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Director
Michele Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Annie Mumolo Kristin Wiig, Bridesmaids
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, Ides of March
Steven Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin, Moneyball
Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Foreign Film
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monseiur Lazar
A Separation
Best Animated Feature
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Best Animated Short
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life
Best Live Action Short
Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic
Best Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
Best Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Best Costumes
Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.
Best Documentary Feature
Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Libration Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated
Best Documentary Short
The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom
Best Film Editing
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Best Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
Best Original Score
The Adventures of TinTin
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse
Best Original Song
“Man or Muppet”, The Muppets
“Real in Rio”, Rio
Best Sound Editing
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
War Horse
Best Visual Effects
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
