2012 Academy Awards Predictions

Hollywood’s biggest night is coming up February 26 with the 84th Annual Academy Awards. Our film critics weigh with their predictions for the biggest awards of the night.

Best Actor
Nominees: Damian Bichir, A Better Life; George Clooney, The Descendants; Jean Dujardin, The Artist; Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Gary Oldman
Will Win: George Clooney

Martin Malloy
Will Win: Jean Dujardin
Should Win: Brad Pitt

Best Actress
Nominees: Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs; Viola Davis, The Help; Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo; Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady; Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Rooney Mara
Will Win: Viola Davis

Martin Malloy
Will Win: Viola Davis
Should Win: Michelle Williams

Best Supporting Actor
Nominees: Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn; Jonah Hill, Moneyball; Nick Nolte, Warrior; Christopher Plummer, Beginners; Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Christopher Plummer
Will Win: Christopher Plummer

Marin Malloy
Will Win: Christopher Plummer
Should Win: Christopher Plummer

Best Supporting Actress
Nominees: Berenice Bejo, The Artist; Jessica Chastain, The Help; Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids; Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs; Octavia Spencer, The Help

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Janet McTeer
Will Win: Berenice Bejo

Martin Malloy
Will Win: Octavia Spencer
Should Win: Melissa McCarthy

Best Director
Nominees: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist; The Descendants, Alexander Payne; Martin Scorsese, Hugo; Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris; Terence Malick, The Tree of Life

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Terence Malick
Will Win: Michel Hazanavicius

Martin Malloy
Will Win: Michael Hazanavicius
Should Win: Terence Malick

Best Feature Film
Nominees: The Artist; The Descandants; Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close; The Help; Hugo; Midnight in Paris; Moneyball; The Tree of Life; War Horse

Mel Valentin
Should Win: The Tree of Life
Will Win: The Artist

Martin Malloy
Will Win: The Descendents
Should Win: The Descendents

Best Original Screenplay
Nominees: The Artist, Bridesmaids, Margin Call, Midnight in Paris, A Separation

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Margin Call
Will Win: The Artist

Martin Malloy
Will Win: Midnight in Paris
Should Win: Midnight in Paris

Best Adapted Screenplay
Nominees: The Descendants, Hugo, The Ides of March, Moneyball, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Mel Valentin
Should Win: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Will Win: The Descendants

Martin Malloy
Will Win: The Descendents
Should Win: The Descendents

Matt Crawford is content director for Boulevards New Media, Inc. and Metro Newspaper and managing editor of SF Station. Follow him @Metro_Matt.