The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday its 83rd list of Oscar nominations, and with it came the usual influx of both yawns and gasps. “The King’s Speech” fared the best with 12 nominations, but alongside it came a plethora of snubs.
Here’s a look at the nominees and some predictions for who will nab those little gold men Feb. 27.
BEST PICTURE
This category offered no shocks this year, which is surprising now that the Academy has revved it up to include an inflated 10 nominations. The only shutout was Ben Affleck’s “The Town,” but how many people really care?
Will win: It’ll be hard to top “The Social Network,” which has grabbed almost every precursor Best Picture award to date, including the Golden Globe. Unless another entry — particularly “The King’s Speech” or “The Fighter” — takes the top prize at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, nothing can beat “Network.”
Should win: I say “bah, humbug” to “Network’s” ubiquitous dominance and an impassioned “yes, please” to several other contenders, namely indie dramedy “The Kids Are All Right” and psychological thriller “Black Swan.” The list of nominees is altogether pretty stellar, and I can only hope “Speech” might prevail after all. It deserves to.
BEST ACTOR
Bye-bye, Ryan Gosling. The predicted “Blue Valentine” nominee was shut out in favor of Javier Bardem (“Biutiful”), much to endorser Julia Roberts’ likely satisfaction. It’s nice to see Jeff Bridges ended up being included, though, for his rambunctious performance in “True Grit.”
Will win: Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”). It’s no contest whatsoever, so I won’t bore you with monotony.
Should win: Firth clearly had the standout male performance this year. This award will certainly be put in the right person’s hands.
BEST ACTRESS
“Blue Valentine’s” Michelle Williams managed to sneak in despite Gosling’s snub, but only at the dismissal of Lesley Manville (“Another Year”), Halle Berry (“Frankie and Alice”), Hilary Swank (“Conviction”) and Julianne Moore (“The Kids Are All Right”).
Will win: As every awards pundit knows, it’s an arms race between “Black Swan” star Natalie Portman and “The Kids Are All Right” mom Annette Benning. Both women won Golden Globes (Portman for drama, Benning for comedy), but Portman has a slight edge after winning the Broadcast Film Critics Award, as well as many others. Perhaps the Academy might award the more experienced Benning for the first time, but in the end, expect drama to prevail as usual.
Or maybe “Rabbit Hole’s” Nicole Kidman, in a last-minute twist, could add a new mantelpiece decoration thanks to Academy members not wanting to decide between Portman and Benning. Probably not, but don’t give up hope yet, Nicole.
Should win: It’s a strong list, but Portman’s soft yet fervent performance is a true winner, literally and figuratively.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
None of the “Social Network” boys prevailed here — not even the favored Andrew Garfield, allowing two surprises to sneak in: John Hawkes, for his gritty performance as a meth head in “Winter’s Bone,” and Mark Ruffalo, for playing an upbeat sperm donor in “The Kids Are All Right.”
Will win: It’s between Christian Bale, who gave a performance unlike any of his others as a crack addict in the boxing drama “The Fighter,” and Geoffrey Rush, who shined as King George VI’s speech therapist.
Should win: The Academy has it right here — it truly was Bale’s and Rush’s year. But Bale’s tenacious turn will give him the leverage he needs to prevail next month.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
The only glaring snub here came in not awarding Mila Kunis for her smart turn as Portman’s ballet rival. Instead, little-known Jacki Weaver landed in the finals for the little-seen “Animal Kingdom.”
Will win: It’s a three-way race between Amy Adams, Melissa Leo (both from “The Fighter”) and Helena Bonham Carter (“Speech”). But expect Leo to prevail after having inched ahead via the precursor awards, including the Golden Globes.
Should win: Leo is fierce and highly deserving, but Carter’s delicate maneuvers as she watches her kingly husband suffer give Leo a good run for her money.
BEST DIRECTOR
The Coen brothers (“True Grit”) triumphed after all, shutting out both Christopher Nolan (“Inception”) and Danny Boyle (“127 Hours”).
Will win: In actuality, thanks to David Fincher’s unbeatable supremacy in what seems to be every award possible, it doesn’t especially matter who was or wasn’t nominated. “The Social Network’s” driving force is a guaranteed win.
Should win: Fincher’s portrait was clever and strikingly modern, but Darren Aronofsky’s psychological complexities could have been enough to thrust him to the top of the race in a less Facebook-centric year.
  Blog: Oscar’s snub noteworthy performances
 
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