Final Oscar Predictions: Acting

Actress in a Leading Role

Cate Blanchett – Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie – Away From Her
Marion Cotillard – La Vie En Rose
Angelina Jolie – A Mighty Heart
Ellen Page – Juno

Reasoning: It's tight for the fifth place in this line-up, but despite her film's scathingly bad reviews, Cate Blanchett's performance, the essence of 'thespian', should prevail over her other three competitors. I hope not though, because if she does, I'm going to have to see the pile of crap.

Actor in a Leading Role

George Clooney – Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis – There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp – Sweeney Todd
Emile Hirsch – Into the Wild
Viggo Mortensen – Eastern Promises

Reasoning: They seem to have the strongest films, bar McAvoy, who, despite his brilliance, is more the victim of the film than the dynamic active lead.

Actress in a Supporting Role

Cate Blanchett – I’m Not There
Catherine Keener – Into the Wild
Saoirse Ronan – Atonement
Amy Ryan – Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton – Michael Clayton

Reasoning: AMPAS seem to love Keener, and she's gotten more attention than Vanessa Redgrave. I don't like Ruby Dee's performance so I can't bring myself to predict her.

Actor in a Supporting Role

Casey Affleck – The Assassination of Jesse James…
Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Charlie Wilson’s War
Hal Holbrook – Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson – Michael Clayton

Reasoning: It's Hoffman or Tommy Lee Jones. Both have had big years but Hoffman's has been bigger. I'm pulling for Tommy though. Tom Wilkinson could be snubbed for them both, but I think this is a more realistic line-up.