Who do you think will win? Prepare your predictions for an Oscar contest in the Feb. 19 issue of the Advocate.

Actor in a leading role
Although it’s considered the tightest race in years, Daniel Day-Lewis’s portrayal of Lincoln has swept the awards season with ease, as he should; anyone who saw “Lincoln” will agree that he was flawless and captivating.

The other four nominees deserve the recognition for their incredible performances. Hugh Jackman was the driving force behind the plot of “Les Miserables” and starved himself for days to look worn down. Bradley Cooper was at his best in “Silver Linings Playbook,” and both Denzel and Joaquin delivered excellent performances.

But at the end of the day, there is no doubt Day-Lewis will walk away with his well-deserved third Academy Award statue.

Actor in a supporting role
The awards season has been all over the board in this category, with wins given to Tommy Lee Jones, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Christoph Waltz.

The Academy will likely lean toward Jones, especially since “Lincoln” will have a strong showing the whole night.

However, Christoph Waltz’s hilarious badass bounty hunter in “Django Unchained” deserves the win over Jones. Waltz was arguably the best part about “Django,” whereas Jones’ presence wasn’t as heavily felt.

Honorable mention goes to Robert DeNiro’s raw, emotional performance in “Silver Linings Playbook.”

BY BRIAN ASHBURN
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