Awards season is upon us and several critics circles, SAG, and the Hollywood Foreign Press (Golden Globes) have listed their best films lists, awards, and nominations in a variety of categories. There’s no reason for me to sit back silently and not get my two cents in. Overall, there haven’t been many surprises, though a few notable snubs immediately come to mind upon reading some of these lists and nominations.

Based on my years of following such lists and awards shows, I’ve put together my “official” Oscar nomination predictions for the four acting categories and Best Picture. I follow each prediction with a “preliminary” winner. These are not my “official” winner predictions, as those will come closer to the Oscars.

The nominations for the 84th annual Academy Awards will be announced on Tuesday, January 24.

Best Actor

Demián Bichir – A Better Life

George Clooney – The Descendants

Leonardo DiCaprio – J. Edgar

Jean Dujardin – The Artist

Brad Pitt – Moneyball

Alternates:

Michael Fassbender – Shame

Ryan Gosling – The Ides of March

Preliminary Winner:

Jean Dujardin

Best Actress

Glenn Close – Albert Nobbs

Viola Davis – The Help

Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady

Tilda Swinton – We Need to Talk About Kevin

Michelle Williams – My Week with Marilyn

Alternates:

Kirsten Dunst – Melancholia

Rooney Mara – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Charlize Theron – Young Adult

Preliminary Winner:

Michelle Williams

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh – My Week with Marilyn

Albert Brooks – Drive

Jonah Hill – Moneyball

Nick Nolte – Warrior

Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Alternates:

Armie Hammer – J. Edgar

Viggo Mortensen – A Dangerous Method

Preliminary Winner:

Christopher Plummer

Best Supporting Actress

Bérénice Bejo – The Artist

Jessica Chastain – The Help

Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids

Janet McTeer – Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer – The Help

Alternate:

Shailene Woodley – The Descendants

Preliminary Winner:

Janet McTeer

Best Picture

The Artist

The Descendants

The Help

Hugo

The Ides of March

Moneyball

War Horse

Alternates:

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

J. Edgar

Midnight in Paris

Preliminary Winner:

The Artist