For anyone following the Academy and film each year like me, it should go without saying that I was beyond dissatisfied with the nomination choices this year, and normally I think they do a fair job at nominating the right films and people. But we've all vented our frustration, and tonight, the awards will be handed out. A number of people have made their predictions for who they think will win, and there seems to be a fairly common consensus. So I'll be contributing my thoughts, both in regards to what I expect to win and, for the categories I feel I've either seen all or, in my opinion, most of the nominees, which I'd personally pick. If I don't provide a "Who/What I'd Pick," it's probably because I haven't seen any of the nominations.
Best Live Action Short Film
What Will Win: Raju
Best Animated Short Film
What Will Win: La Luna
Best Documentary Short
What Will Win: Incident in New Baghdad
Best Feature Documentary
What Will Win: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Best Visual Effects
What Will Win: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
What I'd Pick: Hugo or Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Best Sound Editing
What Will Win: War Horse
What I'd Pick: Drive
Best Sound Mixing
What Will Win: Hugo
What I'd Pick: Hugo
Best Original Song
What Will Win: "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets
Best Original Score
What Will Win: The Artist
What I'd Pick: War Horse (but to be honest, any of the nominees is worthy of this award except for The Adventures of Tintin)
Best Make-Up
What Will Win: Albert Nobbs
Best Costume Design
What Will Win: The Artist
What I'd Pick: The Artist
Best Art Direction
What Will Win: The Artist
What I'd Pick: The Artist or Hugo
Best Editing
What Will Win: The Artist
What I'd Pick: The Artist
Best Cinematography
What Will Win: The Tree of Life
What I'd Pick: The Tree of Life
Best Foreign Language Film
What Will Win: A Separation
Best Feature Animated Film
What Will Win: Rango
Best Adapted Screenplay
What Will Win: Moneyball
What I'd Pick: The Descendants
Best Original Screenplay
What Will Win: The Artist
Best Supporting Actress
Who Will Win: Octavia Spencer in The Help
Best Supporting Actor
Who Will Win: Christopher Plummber in Beginners
Best Lead Actress
Who Will Win: Viola Davis in The Help
Who I'd Pick: Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Best Lead Actor
Who Will Win: Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Who I'd Pick: Jean Dujardin in The Artist or George Clooney in The Descendants
Best Direction
Who Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist
Who I'd Pick: Martin Scorsese for Hugo
Best Picture
What Will Win: The Artist
What I'd Pick: The Artist or The Descendants