84th annual Academy Awards: Winner Predictions

With the 84th issuance of the coveted golden statuettes less than four days away it is time that I finally quit my stalling and make my predictions for who will walk away with their heads held high. This year's nominations have been regarded as some of the most odd and predictable and though that is true on some fronts there is always the chance for some great upsets.

Will "The Descendants" dethrone the award favorite "The Artist?" Can Mara take the reigns away from Hollywood elite with her edgy performance? or can Payne or Allen in his prime split the director and best picture categories keeping "The Artist" from total domination?

Probably not, so after weeks of deliberating (procrastinating) and hours of sifting through the historical statistics here is my attempt at safe picks for the 84th annual Academy Awards this Sunday night.

• Best picture - "The Artist"
• Best actor in a leading role - Jean Dujardin, “The Artist”
• Best actress in a leading role - Viola Davis, “The Help”
• Best actor in a supporting role - Christopher Plummer, “Beginners”
• Best actress in a supporting role - Octavia Spencer, “The Help”
• Best director - Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist”
• Writing (adapted screenplay) - Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash, “The Descendants"
• Writing (original screenplay) - Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris”
• Animated feature film - “Rango”
• Art direction - "Hugo"
• Cinematography - "The Tree of Life"
• Visual effects - “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”
• Original score - Ludovic Bource, “The Artist”
• Sound mixing - “Hugo”
• Costume design - “Hugo”
• Film editing - “The Artist”

Do you agree with my choices, or have some different choices of your own? Let me know who you are putting your money on and why in the comments.