Countdown To Oscars - Preview

Every year I post this page of picks, and predictions for the Academy awards.

With time running down to the 83rd annual awards February 27, time for the winners to be crowned. Every year I see and review roughly 130 movies for Akronnewsnow.com, and this is among my favorite articles to write. Here I will give you three picks in the five major categories. The three picks will be this. First, my pick as the best in each. Then who I think the Academy will pick. And then the Dark Horse. The one that could sneak up and take the prize as a big surprise. Last year my dark horse for Best Picture did win, The Hurt Locker.

So let's go!

Best Picture

My Pick - True Grit. The Coen Brothers adapted this fantastic story, and made it their own. This movie is compelling, emotional and made into an original. Performances are excellent, as is the entire package. Hard to leave untouched. Terrific.

The Academy Will Pick - The King's Speech. And you understand why. This movie is uplifting, and a story you don't know. Wonderful performances and a movie that you cheer for, cry with and fall in love with. This years big winner!

Dark Horse - Toy Story 3. The Academy has been flirting with having an animated film win for a few years now. Toy Story 3 is very powerful and is on everyone's 10 best list. With no clear front runner, this could be the year.

Best Actor

My Pick - Jeff Bridges, True Grit. He right now is simply Hollywood's best leading man. After his Oscar last year for Crazy Heart, this performance in True Grit is just as good. He made the role of Rooster Cogburn his own, and emerged from John Wayne's shadow big time. Wonderful performance.

The Academy Will Pick - Colin Firth, The King's Speech. Wonderful, great, a role of a lifetime generally gets you the Oscar. The suttering King George The VI, what a challenge and what a performace. This is his moment. Firth will from here on in, be remembered for this role and it's well deserved.

Dark Horse - James Franco, 127 Hours. Depends what kind of mood the Academy is in. Franco is a great young actor, in a huge role in this little movie. Is the Academy feeling young this year? Possible. He is also the host of the award show itself, would be a nice moment. He is great in this role, but to me better movies and times are ahead. But this, for many reasons would not stun me.

Best Actress

My Pick - Natalie Portman, Black Swan. This is the runaway performance of the year in this category I feel. Great ballet dancing, a big leading role, and she's very believable. What hurts her here though is Black Swan is an off the beaten path kind of movie for this academy. But feeling young? Could help. But she's simply great.

The Academy Will Pick - Annette Benning, The Kids Are Alright. She's just too much to pass up I feel. The Academy loves her and they love this movie far more than the general public did. A Benning win would really be a shame for Portman, but I fear it's almost unavoidable. This is not the performance Portman turned in. This will be the snub of the night.

Dark Horse - Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine. This little, powerful movie is all hers. Sometimes a single scene can win you an Oscar, and in this movie she has two of them. This would absolutely not be a shocker.

Best Supporting Actor

My Pick - Geoffery Rush, The King's Speech. He is fabulous in this movie, and as good as it is this movie does not work without him in it. About as perfectly cast as one could be. Just endearing, engaging, original and great.

The Academy Will Pick - Geoffery Rush, The King's Speech. This is I feel is a done deal.

Dark Horse - Christian Bale, The Fighter. For me he was a bit over the top at times here, but this movie is huge, and he is very good in it. This movie will not get shut out all night, this could be a place to win.

Best supporting Actress


My Pick - Haille Steinfeld, True Grit. This should be the slam dunk of the night. This is not a supporting role, it's a leading role. And this is the best child performance I feel in movie history. This is a huge role with tough dialogue, and physically demanding. Stellar in every single way. At 13, starring in a movie with 2 recent Oscar winners, and looking like you belong there, in your first movie? This performance in these circumstances should be honored.

The Academy Will Pick - Haille Steinfeld, True Grit. She's just the best. Period. Role and performance of a lifetime.

Dark Horse - Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech. Sometimes movies get on a role and keep rolling. Taking nothing away, she's darn good, but the role itself pales to Steinfeld in every way. Way smaller and far, far less challenging.

There you have it. Picks for the 2011 Oscars. They will be handed out Sunday February 27th. E-mail me with your thoughts scott@wqmx.com .