Tonight is the biggest night in Hollywood as stars converge in Dolby Theater for the 85th Academy Awards. Last year was a very good year in films and the battle for tonight would validate the selected few who will get to win the Oscars and have their name written in the Oscar history book. With that being said, the competition is as stiff as last year when Meryl Streep and Viola Davis battled it out for the Best Actress category with the former winning her third statuette.
As for this year, like what I’ve been doing for the last couple of years – I’d be presenting my predictions / thoughts in certain categories with the THINK and WANT format or Think / Want / Should Win format or Winner / Spoiler blah blah.
Here they are…
Best Picture
![Argo](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/argo.jpg?w=500)
THINK / WANT / SHOULD – Argo is arguably the one to beat tonight with its unprecedented accolades left and right. The Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild and the BAFTA hailed it as their Best Picture and I cannot imagine the Academy not following through and not recognizing the film despite the controversial snub of its director Ben Affleck.
SPOILER: If the Academy will snub this film just to be different, the award may go to Lincoln or Life Of Pi.
Best Director
![It should only be between Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/steven.jpg?w=500&h=328)
It should only be between Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee
With Ben Affleck getting no love from the Academy, I’ve this feeling that the Oscar will go to either Steven Spielberg or Ang Lee – both are previous winners. With this, I think it’ll be Steven Spielberg simply because I kinda think that (on a personal level) Spielberg’s direction was much better than the Life Of Pi of Ang Lee.
SPOILER: Ang Lee for Life Of Pi
Best Actor (LOCKED)
![Daniel Day Lewis masterfully portraying Abraham Lincoln](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/ddl.jpg?w=500)
Daniel Day Lewis masterfully portraying Abraham Lincoln
Think / Want / Should / No Spoiler: British actor Daniel Day Lewis is one of the favorites of the Academy having won two Oscars already. With his beyond impressive portrayal of Abe Lincoln, DDL could easily walk away with his third win – a well deserved win at that.
Best Actress
![A Scene from Silver Linings Playbook](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/jlaw.jpg?w=500&h=308)
A Scene from Silver Linings Playbook
Now this is one of the most awaited categories of the night. Everybody thought Jennifer Lawrence had this already in the bag until Emmanuelle Riva’s name pops in and even snatching the BAFTA from JLaw. This could be a very interesting upset if the Silver Linings Playbook actress will go home empty handed after tonight.
THINK: Jennifer Lawrence – given the that American voters dominates the Academy, I should think that JLaw will get this.
![Emmanuelle Riva](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/emmanuelle-riva.jpg?w=500&h=333)
WANT and SHOULD /SPOILER: Emmanuelle Riva – her moving portrayal in Amour is beyond. This is her first nomination and was touted to be the oldest to get the nod for this category. Not for sentimental reason because Miss Riva’s 86 but because I believe that she actually deserved it more than Jennifer.
Best Supporting Actress (LOCKED)
![Anne Hathaway in one of the most heart wrenching scene of Les Mis](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/anne.jpg?w=500&h=310)
Anne Hathaway in one of the most heart wrenching scene of Les Mis
No one – as in no one can beat Anne Hathaway tonight. Her portrayal of the ever so distraught Fantine in Les Misérables is perfection. The dynamic of her emotions as she sings the theme of the song has sealed her Oscar destiny. It’ll be such a shocker if Sally Field would snatch this one from her.
Best Supporting Actor
![Christoph Waltz](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/django-waltz.jpg?w=500&h=434)
Christoph Waltz
You cannot go wrong with Christoph Waltz when it comes to being cynical and all and Tommy Lee Jones have proven her worth a long time ago. I should think that it’s only between them and I’m betting towards Waltz winning this. Atleast I think the Academy have voted for him.
![TLJ](https://paddylastinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/tlj.jpg?w=500)
SPOILER: Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln
Best Original Screenplay
Think / Want / Should – Amour
Best Writing Adapted Screnplay
Think / Want – Lincoln
Should – Argo
Best Animated Feature
Think / Should / Want – Brave
Best Editing
Think/ Should/ Want – Argo
Best Original Score
Think/ Should/ Want – Life Of Pi
Best Original Song
Think/ Should / Want – Adele for Skyfall
Best Visual Effects
Think/ Should/ Want – Life Of Pi
Best Sound Editing
Think/ Should/ Want – Life Of Pi
Best Foreign Film
Think/ Should/ Want – Amour
Best Production Design
Think/ Should/ Want – Les Miserables
Best Make Up And Hair
Think/ Should/ Want – Les Miserables
Best Costume Design
Think/ Should/ Want – Les Miserables
‘have not seen any of the short film / documentary categories so I opted to leave them alone instead of merely guessing! I hope the deserving winners would win tonight! ‘till next year!