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Viola Davis, Jean Dujardin Fun fact: No movie about movie-making has won Best Picture in the Academy awards. Will The Artist break that tradition in the 84th Oscars? We'll have to hang about until Sunday (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT, ABC) to discover, but meanwhile, let us have forecasts. Browse the nominees here, print your ballot, build your picks and do a comparison to ours below.Hugo, The Artist lead Oscar nominationsPictureWho will win: The ArtistDone deal. After sweeping nearly every major precursor, the black-and-whitened valentine towards the quiet film era is poised being the very first quiet film to win Best Picture since Wings triumphed in the first Oscars in 1929. Stylish, warm along with a feel-good delight, it's performed so masterfully that you simply forget there's no dialogue. Plus, it's the very best ace in the hole of: Uggie.Be careful for: The DescendantsAlexander Payne's tale of human imperfection, which required home the Golden Globe for the best Picture around the drama side, acquired some last-minute steam with a few industry trophies over the past weekend, such as the Authors Guild Award. But it is most likely not enough past too far.Are you aware? The Artist, that has 10 nominations (Hugo leads with 11), will be the first entirely black-and-whitened film to win Best Picture since 1960's The Apartment. Schindler's List, which won 18 years back, wasn't completely in black and whitened.DirectorWho will win: Michel Hazanavicius, The ArtistHe's the only real first-time nominee within the group, however the Frenchman, who's also nominated for the best Original Script and finest Editing, must cruise for an easy victory here. No matter if the Artist is to your liking, you cannot deny it's a massive gamble that could've appear like a disingenuous gimmick. Hazanavicius pays homage to Hollywood's past whilst imbuing the film together with his own artistic vision. He's stated virtually every large precursor to date, such as the most dependable predictor, the Company directors Guild Award, that has mismatched using the Academy awards only six occasions since its beginning in 1949.Be careful for: Martin Scorsese, HugoOne of Hazavanicius' couple of deficits came as a result of Scorsese in the Globes, which is not that huge of the shock because the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is large around the star factor. Had Scorsese, nominated for their own love letter to movie-making, not finally won his first Oscar 5 years ago for that Departed, he may stand at an improved chance to have an upset. Are you aware? In Oscars' 83-year history, there is a Best Picture and finest Director split 21 occasions, most lately six years back when Crash won the very best prize, while Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) stated the second.Oscar Surprises and Snubs: Gary Oldman will get his due, but Leo sits that one outActorWho will win: Jean Dujardin, The ArtistFor some time, this appeared to become a race between best buds George Clooney (The Descendants) and Kaira Pitt (Moneyball) until Dujardin moved into pole position together with his mild Screen Stars Guild Award upset. (The SAGs are chosen by stars, who represent the biggest voting bloc within the academy.) Dujardin, who also snagged the comedy Globe and also the BAFTA, is peaking in the proper time, charming the pants off everybody together with his talk show looks and Funny or Die video, and you will result in the argument that his role is easily the most difficult. Without any dialogue, he carries The Artist and intrigues as George Valentin, making the 20's star a completely recognized character with exclusively his facial expressions and the body movement that put scenery-eating performances to shame.Be careful for: George Clooney, The DescendantsThe academy loves Clooney - nominating him, a minimum of. He obtained two nods this season (he's also up in Best Modified Script for that Ides of March) for a maximum of seven in six years, with one win (Best Supporting Actor for 2005's Syriana). His subtle, nuanced performance is worth another statuette, but this narrative sounds just a little familiar. 2 yrs ago, Clooney appeared primed to win for Up in mid-air at the start of the growing season, but he was eventually overtaken by someone with increased momentum: an past due Shaun Bridges. But in the rate he's accumulating these nominations, another win can not be that remote, right? Are you aware? Jane Wyman was the very first person to win an Oscar for any quiet performance within the seem era for 1948's Johnny Belinda.ActressWho will win: Viola Davis, The HelpDavis' poignant, supportive turn like a put-upon maid tugs at the heart lengthy following the credits roll. Performance aside, should you saw the overwhelming crowd - also known as her peers - response to her SAG victory recently, you are able to clearly observe that all of them want this on her. Even Meryl Streep wants it on her, espousing plaudits on her behalf Doubt co-star and friend nearly every chance she will get. Davis, who had been nominated within the supporting category for 2008's Doubt, is really a respected, longtime character actress who's getting her day under the sun. With a movie about racial inequality, there'd be history associated with a Davis win: Just the second black actress to get multiple Oscar nominations (Whoopi Goldberg to be the other), she'd be also just the second to win Best Actress - ten years after Halle Berry grew to become the very first. Be careful for: Meryl Streep, The Iron LadyThe 17-time nominee and 2-time champion continues to be seeking her third trophy, which is her best chance to increase her collection in nearly ten years. Streep's technically proficient transformation into Margaret Thatcher - spanning decades - may be the stuff which Academy awards are created and stands for the idea that there's nothing she can't do. She's already acquired the world and (predictably) the BAFTA, with producer/honours shark Harvey Weinstein in her own corner this season, her campaign has ratcheted up too.Are you aware? If Streep wins, her 29-year drought between victories will be the third longest, behind Helen Hayes (39 years) and Katharine Hepburn (34 years). Think back finally year's Oscar fashion hits and missesSupporting ActorWho will win: Christopher Plummer, BeginnersHeartbreakingly funny, sad and moving, Plummer provides a career-best performance like a late-blooming gay guy. His title continues to be engraved around the trophy for several weeks, along with a win would also recognize Plummer's six-decade film career, that was overlooked through the Academy awards until his first nomination 2 yrs ago during the last Station. At 82, Plummer will be the earliest acting Oscar champion ever, dethroning Jessica Tandy, who had been 80 when she struck gold for Driving Miss Daisy. Be careful for: Max Von Sydow, Very Noisy & Incredibly CloseVon Sydow, who had been formerly nominated 23 years back for Pelle the Conqueror, continues to be untested against Plummer around the bigger honours stages, but he shouldn't be undervalued. Equipped with a stirring, first-class mute performance, Von Sydow also offers the advantage of finding yourself in a Best Picture-nominated film. Both his and also the film's nods were somewhat surprising, which indicate strong support inside the academy. Von Sydow can also be 82 (he's eight several weeks over the age of Plummer), so he'd end up being the earliest acting champion too.Are you aware? Plummer and Von Sydow would be the earliest nominees around the male side, however they still trail the earliest artist ever to become nominated, Titanic's Gloria Stuart, who had been 87.Supporting ActressWho will win: Octavia Spencer, The HelpSpencer has centered all honours season and it has proven no signs and symptoms of vulnerability. Her feisty Minny has you grabbing the Kleenex and doubling over and done with laughter, which is a classic breakthrough performance for that 41-year-old, whose lengthy, hard-working years within the biz have gained her lots of goodwill and admiration - not to mention pals. (Remember her date towards the SAGs?)Be careful for: Berenice Bejo, The ArtistIf voters are actually gaga for that Artist, Bejo - and her radiant and peppy overnight sensation Peppy - could ride the momentum to some win. Helping her cause: Bejo, who's married to Hazanavicius, is perhaps an online insurance lead within the film, and additional screen time isn't a poor factor.Are you aware? If Davis and Spencer win, it might be the very first time in 13 years that certain film has won both actress honours. The sweep has happened 10 occasions: Jezebel, Gone using the Wind, Mrs. Miniver, A Streetcar Named Desire, The Miracle Worker, Who's Scared of Virginia Woolf?, Network, Moonstruck, The Piano and Shakespeare for each other.Who do you consider will win?