The Oscars are coming next Sunday and work pools will be striking up in the next week. Here are my informed picks. See how your picks match up with mine. I dare you.

BEST PICTURE: THE HURT LOCKER
After surprising many in Hollywood by winning the Producers’ Guild Award, the best film nominated for this year’s Oscar seems to be in the right position to take the award next Sunday.

AVATAR
THE BLIND SIDE
DISTRICT 9
AN EDUCATION
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
PRECIOUS
A SERIOUS MAN
UP
UP IN THE AIR

BEST ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, CRAZY HEART
It’s been too long and his performance is great.

George Clooney, UP IN THE AIR
Colin Firth, A SINGLE MAN
Morgan Freeman, INVICTUS
Jeremy Renner, THE HURT LOCKER

BEST ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, THE BLIND SIDE
She’s still in a photo finish race with Streep, but because this might be the Academy’s only chance to praise her, she gets the edge.

Helen Mirren, THE LAST STATION
Carey Mulligan, AN EDUCATION
Gabourey Sidibe, PRECIOUS
Meryl Streep, JULIE & JULIA

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Locked.

Matt Damon, INVICTUS
Woody Harrelson, THE MESSENGER
Christopher Plummer, THE LAST STATION
Stanley Tucci, THE LOVELY BONES

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo’Nique, PRECIOUS
Double locked.

Penelope Cruz, NINE
Vera Farmiga, UP IN THE AIR
Maggie Gyllenhaal, CRAZY HEART
Anna Kendrick, UP IN THE AIR

BEST DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, THE HURT LOCKER
Bigelow is the first woman to win the DGA Award. She will be the first woman to win the Oscar for directing as well. And she deserves it. Take that ex-husband James Cameron.

James Cameron, AVATAR
Quentin Tarantino, INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
Lee Daniels, PRECIOUS
Jason Reitman, UP IN THE AIR

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: UP
It’s a Pixar film, duh.

CORALINE
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG
THE SECRET OF KELLS

ART DIRECTION: AVATAR
The technical awards (where it deserves all the praise) is where AVATAR will rule. This is the second most deserved award for the highest grossing film of all time.

THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS
NINE
SHERLOCK HOLMES
THE YOUNG VICTORIA

CINEMATOGRAPHY: AVATAR
Even though most of the cinematography is digital, it’s still breathtaking.

HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE
THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
THE WHITE RIBBON

COSTUME DESIGN: THE YOUNG VICTORIA
Period piece costumes win this category.

BRIGHT STAR
COCO BEFORE CHANEL
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS
NINE

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: THE COVE
Simply the best doc in this category.

BURMA VJ
FOOD, INC.
THE MOST DANGEROUS MAN IN AMERICA: DANIEL ELLSBERG AND THE PENTAGON PAPERS
WHICH WAY HOME

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: THE LAST TRUCK: CLOSING OF A GM PLANT
Directors Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert have been nominated twice before, so it’s probably about time for them to win. This emotional look at the closing of truck plant just seems like the right film for the times. But don’t be surprised if the powerful CHINA’S UNNATURAL DISASTER or the euthanasia short BOOTH GARDNER take home the prize.

CHINA’S UNNATURAL DISASTER: THE TEARS OF SICHUAN PROVINCE
THE LAST CAMPAIGN OF GOVERNOR BOOTH GARDNER
MUSIC BY PRUDENCE
RABBIT A LA BERLIN

FILM EDITING: THE HURT LOCKER
Rarely does the best picture not win this category as well. It’s already won the editors’ guild.

AVATAR
DISTRICT 9
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
PRECIOUS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: THE WHITE RIBBON
Could be a close race with UN PROPHETE, but I really think the Cannes results will repeat at the Oscars.

AJAMI
EL SECRETO DE SUS OJOS
THE MILK OF SORROW
UN PROPHETE

MAKE-UP: STAR TREK
This is a tough one to call. But I’m going with the flashier nominee.

IL DIVO
THE YOUNG VICTORIA

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE): UP
Michael Giacchino’s star is on the rise in the world of film composing and his great score is part of the film’s emotional power.

AVATAR
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
THE HURT LOCKER
SHERLOCK HOLMES

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG): CRAZY HEART “The Weary Kind” M/L Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
The most important song to the film of any of the nominees usually wins.

THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG “Almost There” M/L Randy Newman
THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG “Down in New Orleans” M/L Randy Newman
PARIS 36 “Loin de Paname” M Reinhardt Wagner, L Frank Thomas
NINE “Take It All” M/L Maury Yeston

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED): A MATTER OF LOAF AND DEATH
Nick Park has been nominated five previous times and has only lost when he bet himself. It’s not the strongest of the Wallace & Gromit films, but in a weaker year, it’s going to be hard to outshine the star wattage.

FRENCH ROAST
GRANNY O’GRIMM’S SLEEPING BEAUTY
THE LADY AND THE REAPER (LA DAMA Y LA MUERTE)
LOGORAMA

SHORT FILM (LIVE-ACTION): KAVI
Described as a mini SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, this emotional look at modern day slavery looks like it’s a few paces ahead of ABRACADABRA and NEW TENANTS.

THE DOOR
INSTEAD OF ABRACADABRA
MIRACLE FISH
THE NEW TENANTS

SOUND EDITING: AVATAR
Won the sound editors’ award.

THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
STAR TREK
UP

SOUND MIXING: AVATAR
Won the sound editors’ award.

THE HURT LOCKER
INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
STAR TREK
TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN

VISUAL EFFECTS: AVATAR
Locked. The most deserved award for the highest grossing film of all time.

DISTRICT 9
STAR TREK

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY): UP IN THE AIR
Won the WGA award and allows the Academy to reward the hot young director Jason Reitman somehow.

DISTRICT 9
AN EDUCATION
IN THE LOOP
PRECIOUS

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY): THE HURT LOCKER
Won the WGA Award, but don’t be surprised if Tarantino sneaks in.

INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS
THE MESSENGER
A SERIOUS MAN
UP