I am notoriously poor at picking the winners for the academy awards (which is my way of providing a loophole should I choose poorly again this year). I have been watching the Oscars pretty much every year since Platoon won best pic and director in 1986 (aka this is my 25th anniversary watching the show…I am that old).

I really don’t know why I enjoy the show so much. There are a myriad of potential reasons including the fact that I am a rabid pop culture junkie; I, like so many others, desperately seek ways to escape from the periodic bleakness of the world and movies are definitely a good one, etc.

So with that as an introduction I will endeavor to make my picks here:

Writing (Original Screenplay) – The King’s Speech *

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – The Social Network *

Visual Effects – Inception *

Sound Mixing – The King’s Speech

Sound Editing – True Grit

Short Film (Live Action) – The Confession

Short Film (Animated) – Day & Night

Music (Original Song) – If I Rise

Music (Original Score) – The Social Network (Just cuz it would be cool to see Trent Reznor win an Oscar) *

Makeup – The Wolfman *

Foreign Language Film – Incendies (How could I choose otherwise?)

Film Editing – The Social Network *

Documentary (Short Subject) – Killing In the Name

Documentary (Feature) – Exit through the Gift Shop

Costume Design – Alice In Wonderland *

Cinematography – Black Swan

Art Direction – The King’s Speech

Animated Feature Film – How To Train Your Dragon (Ok…I am almost certain that Toy Story 3 will win but I have to go with HTTYD)

Supporting Actress – Hailee Steinfeld (because the Academy loves young actresses)

Leading Actress – Natalie Portman *

Supporting Actor – Geoffrey Rush

Leading Actor – Colin Firth *

Best Picture – The Social Network (BTW Academy – having 10 nominees is STUUUUPID)

Directing – The Social Network