IT'S A WONDERFUL NIGHT FOR OSCAR, OSCAR, OSCAR, WHO WILL WIN?

The four Best Actress Oscars Katharine Hepburn won for Morning Glory, Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, The Lion In Winter, and On Golden Pond.

As I've said, I'm not the fan of the Academy Awards that I once was, but I'll still watch them later this evening and this is how I think the acting awards are going to play out:

Best Actor:

Who will win: Colin Firth, The Kings Speech
Who should win: Colin Firth, The Kings Speech

Best Actress:
Who will win: Natalie Portman, Black Swan
Who should win: Annette Bening, The Kids Are Alright

This is Annette's fourth nomination (the three others were for The Grifters, American Beauty, Being Julia), and while Natalie did take a year of ballet in preparation for her role, Annette's performance was strong, funny and, in my personal opinion, more Oscar-worthy. Watch for a possible upset.

Best Supporting Actor
Who will win: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Who should win: Christian Bale, The Fighter
Possible upset: Geoffrey Rush, The Kings Speech

Christian Bale has, for years, turned in excellent performance after excellent performance. His portrayal of Dicky Eklund is a revelation and an award would be well-deserved. However, those in the know have also told me of a strong showing in votes for Geoffrey Rush, a previous Best Actor award winner (Shine, 1996). Look for another possible upset here, as well.

Best Supporting Actress:
Who will win: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Who should win: Melissa Leo, The Fighter
Possible upset: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Melissa Leo is so damned good that I'm not entirely convinced that she isn't really some barfly they found in a run-down drunks bar in Lowell, MA. I've also been told that some voters were a little turned off by her Oscar campaign. Big deal, the same was said about M'onique and she still won her much-deserved award for Precious. However, Hailee Steinfeld just might swoop in and steal Melissa's thunder. The academy is known to honor younger nominees in this category over more favored-to-win actresses (remember Tatum O'Neal and Anna Paquin). Yet another possible upset, here.