The 84th Annual Academy Awards

The time has finally come. Nominations are out for the 84th Annual Academy Awards. The winners will be announced on Sunday February 26th 2012.

Listed below are the nominees in their respective categories. Highlighted in red are the nominees that I believe deserve and should win an Oscar (and hopefully will). Also highlighted are favorites to win and some side notes.

Let's get excited the Oscars are almost here!

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Nominees:
The Artist (2011)
The Descendants (2011)
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)
The Help (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
Midnight in Paris (2011)
Money Ball (2011)
The Tree of Life (2011)
War Horse (2011)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Nominees:
Demián Bichir for A Better Life (2011)
George Clooney for The Descendants (2011)
Jean Dujardin for The Artist (2011)
Gary Oldman for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011)
Brad Pitt for Money Ball(2011)

....on a side note - where is Leonardo DiCaprio's nomination???? Yet again, snubbed. I have lost count. That is name that clearly should be (and more than deserves to be) on the list!

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Nominees:
Glen Close for Albert Nobbs (2011)
Viola Davis for The Help (2011)
Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady (2011) popular to win
Michelle Williams for My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Sad day for Australians.... I would like to pose the question as to where is Mia Wasikowska's nomination for her title role in Carey Fukanaga's "Jane Eyre"? She was faultless in that performance and deserves at least a mention. Sad to say her name was left off all the nomination lists this year....better luck next year??

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Nominees:
Kenneth Branagh for My Week with Marilyn (2011)
Jonah Hill for Moneyball (2011)
Nick Nolte for Warrior (2011)
Christopher Plummer for Beginners (2010)
Max von Sydow for Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Nominees:
Bérénice Bejo for The Artist (2011)
Jessica Chastain for The Help (2011)
Melissa McCarthy for Bridesmaids (2011)
Janet McTeer for Albert Nobbs (2011)
Octavia Spencer for The Help (2011)

Best Achievement in Directing

Nominees:
Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris (2011)
Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist (2011)
Terrence Malick for The Tree of Life (2011)
Alexander Payne for The Descendants (2011)
Martin Scorsese for Hugo (2011/II)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Nominees:
The Artist (2011): Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids (2011): Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumolo
Margin Call (2011): J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris (2011): Woody Allen
A Separation (2011): Asghar Farhadi

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Nominees:
The Descendants (2011): Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Hugo (2011/II): John Logan
The Ides of March (2011): George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
Moneyball (2011): Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Nominees:
A Cat in Paris (2010)
Chico & Rita (2010)
Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Puss in Boots (2011)
Rango (2011)

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Nominees:
The Artist (2011)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
The Tree of Life (2011)
War Horse (2011)

Best Achievement in Editing

Nominees:
The Artist (2011)
The Descendants (2011)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
Moneyball (2011)

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Nominees:
The Artist (2011): Laurence Bennett, Robert Gould
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2(2011): Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan
Hugo (2011/II): Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
Midnight in Paris (2011): Anne Seibel, Hélène Dubreuil
War Horse (2011): Rick Carter, Lee Sandales

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Nominees:
Anonymous (2011/I): Lisy Christl
The Artist (2011): Mark Bridges
Hugo (2011/II): Sandy Powell
Jane Eyre (2011): Michael O'Connor
W.E. (2011): Arianne Phillips

Best Achievement in Makeup

Nominees:
Albert Nobbs (2011)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
The Iron Lady (2011)

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Nominees:
The Adventures of Tintin (2011): John Williams
The Artist (2011): Ludovic Bource
Hugo (2011/II): Howard Shore
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011): Alberto Iglesias
War Horse (2011): John Williams

Unfortunately Dario Marinelli misses out on a nomination for his haunting score for "Jane Eyre". I would've vouched for him had his name been included on this list....

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Nominees:
The Muppets (2011): Bret McKenzie("Man or Muppet")
Rio (2011): Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown, Siedah Garrett("Real in Rio")

Best Achievement in Sound Mixing

Nominees:
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
Moneyball (2011)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon(2011)
War Horse (2011)

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Nominees:
Drive (2011)
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)
War Horse (2011)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Nominees:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 (2011)
Hugo (2011/II)
Real Steel (2011)
Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011)
Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011)