By Cody Zivley and Haley Hartwick

This year marks the 83^rd Annual Academy Awards which will be hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway none other than at the Kodak Theater of Hollywood. This year nominations were received with amazing films such as the King’s Speech, with a whopping twelve nominations, True Grit taking ten nomination spots, and both Inception and The Social Network taking eight.  The red carpet will also be filled with young stars like Hailee Stienfeld who’s only fourteen and earned her way into the Best Supporting Actress. Toy Story 3, which also happens to be the highest grossing movie of the year will, also make its impact by being the third time an animated movie of all time to be nominated for best picture. Our staff of eight has taken a poll and revealed our predictions on who will be the best of the best.

Best Picture – The Social Network

Why: The Social Network is a fictional film based on the true story of the creation of Facebook. It received some of the highest critical acclaim of the year and has already won the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Picture.

Actor in a Leading Role – Colin Firth (The King’s Speech)

Why:  Colin Flirth showed the world that he is among the best actors in the world. His portrayal of King George VI earned him not only tremendous appraisal from critics but as well as the 2010 Golden Globe for best actor.

Actor in a Supporting Role – Christian Bale (The Fighter)

Why: Christian Bale has been in many Box Office smash films such as The Dark Knight and Terminator: Salvation. In his recent role as the Dicky Eklund, brother of boxer Micky Ward in his amateur boxing years, Bale has shown his abilities as an emotional and passionate actor.

Actress in a Leading Role – Natalie Portman (Black Swan)

Why: Natalie Portman has been an indie favorite for years and in Black Swan, it is clear to see why. Natalie plays Nina, a professional ballerina in New York City. When the opportunity comes up for her to take on the dual role as black and white swan for the upcoming production of Swan Lake, Nina finds her darker side awakened through competition toward another dancer.

Actress in a Supporting Role – Hailee Steineld (True Grit)

Why: Starring in her first feature film, Hailee Steineld (14 years old) has thrown her hat in with the big dogs, with nothing to hide. She proved that talent shows no age in True Grit, where she plays a tough, but stubborn girl searching for her father’s murderer in the late 19^th century with the help from Rooster Cogburn (Jeff Bridges) a tough, stubborn and unflattering U.S marshal.

Animated Featured Film – Toy Story 3

Why: Toy Story 3 ends the 15 year run of the series with a bang that touches the heart and creativity of the audience. As the best reviewed movie of the year, Toy Story 3 proves that Disney Pixar still reign supreme over any other animation studio.

Art Direction – Inception

Why: With a beautiful use of the most modern film animation technology, and probably some of the best graphic designers in the film industry, Inceptions use of visual effects boggles the mind and makes the audience crave more.

Cinematography – True Grit

Why: Beautiful use of color contrast and proper lens tint are only a few words to describe the beauty one sees when watching True Grit. The Coen brothers chose Roger Deakins as their cinematographer, and for good reason too, not only have they been working together on movies such as Fargo and No Country for Old Men, but he is one of the most renowned in the film industry.

Costume Design – Alice in Wonderland

In Alice Wonderland (2010) is based off of the classic novel Behind the Looking Glass, of the Alice in Wonderland Trilogy. And being a film adaptation of one of the craziest and quirky stories ever told, Alice in Wonderlands costumes are as colorful and absurd as the story itself.

Directing – Tie between Dave Fincher (The Social Network) and Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (True Grit)

Joe and Ethan Coen are two of the most respected film directors in the industry, Films with cult followings such as The Big Lebowski, Fargo, O Brother, Where Art Thou?                                                  David Fincher is an isn’t new to the cult classic scene either, with movies such as Fight Club and Seven, he has been a world renown director for many, many years.

Film Editing – The King’s Speech

Why: With the great film Editor Tariq Anwar, who has edited films such as American Beauty and Revolutionary Road, seems to have brought out his A-game with The King’s Speech restoring faith into modern film.

Music (Original Score) – 3 Way tie between How to Train Your Dragon, The King’s Speech, and The Social Network

Why: suspense, sadness, enjoyment, these are only a few of the many emotions that can be expressed through music. This 3 way tie is due because of the music for these three films brings out the best and worst of human emotion, drawing the audience into the plot.

Music (Original Song) – “I See the Light” (Tangled)

Why: Though written for a children’s movie, “I See the Light” portrays a very adult message: love creates clarity. A beautiful melody topped with creative and fitting lyrics, “I See the Light” should be a shoe-in for the Oscar.

Visual Effects – Inception

Why: Inception has brought out one of the most imaginative ideas ever conceived into a film. And with such the art direction and graphics team built a world of imaginative bliss in which not many could even dream of.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) – Tie between The Social Network and True Grit

Why: Both of these films although conceived from another movie or idea, managed to become two of the year’s best films causing millions of eyes around the world to fixate onto theater screens.

Writing (Original Screenplay) – The King’s Speech

Why: The King’s Speech is a piece of cinema heaven, and pretty much an all around perfect film. Writer David Seidler has really outdone himself with one of the most original and great screenplays to have been seen in a long time. Thanks to The Kings Speech, David Seidler will go down as one of the greatest writers in cinema history.