CNN Showbiz's 2012 Oscar predictions

Now that our movie critic Tom Charity has weighed in, we here at CNN.com are giving our predictions for Oscar wins in the big six categories.

We know some of you may have fancy algorithms and special ways of foreseeing a film's success, but we're relying on a healthy mix of Oscars hindsight, appreciation of performances, and good 'ol intuition to predict the Oscars future.

Check out our guesses, and let us know in the comments if we're spot on, or should be prepared to lose our bets!

Best picture

"The Artist"
"Moneyball"
"The Tree of Life"
"The Help"
"Hugo"
"Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close"
"The Descendants"
"War Horse"
"Midnight in Paris"

Says CNN's Lisa Respers France, "The buzz cannot be denied and Hollywood loves, loves, loves nostalgia, so my money is on 'The Artist.'"

Best actor

Demian Bichir ("A Better Life")
George Clooney ("The Descendants")
Jean Dujardin ("The Artist")
Gary Oldman ("Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy")
Brad Pitt ("Moneyball")

The battle between Clooney and Dujardin was a fierce one as we debated who would win, but CNN.com contributor Umika Pidaparthy sums it up: "George Clooney, please. I also want to see more of what Jean Dujardin can do, and I am afraid he might face the dreaded Oscar curse if he wins."

Best actress

Glenn Close ("Albert Nobbs")
Viola Davis ("The Help")
Rooney Mara ("The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo")
Meryl Streep ("The Iron Lady")
Michelle Williams ("My Week with Marilyn")

"Everybody in this category is great," says CNN's Todd Leopold, "and a couple even play real people – usually an easy way to Oscar greatness. But the Academy also likes to show how it pays attention to up and comers, especially those who’ve been laboring as actors for decades, and Davis fits the bill. It helps (no pun intended) that she’s terrific."

Best supporting actor

Kenneth Branagh ("My Week With Marilyn")
Jonah Hill ("Moneyball")
Nick Nolte ("Warrior")
Christopher Plummer ("Beginners")
Max von Sydow ("Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close")

This was the most contentious category for us: It was nearly a three-way tie between Branagh, Plummer and von Sydow, with a last minute vote toward von Sydow, if only to shake it up a bit. Most of you likely have your money on Plummer, but as France says, a joke "about von Sydow’s 'quiet and strong' performance as the mute renter" in "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close" isn't even needed. Simply put, "He’s amazing."

Best supporting actress

Berenice Bejo ("The Artist")
Jessica Chastain ("The Help")
Melissa McCarthy ("Bridesmaids")
Janet McTeer ("Albert Nobbs")
Octavia Spencer ("The Help")

While Melissa McCarthy "has gotten deserved buzz," says Leopold, "it’s not enough. Spencer has not only won at other awards season soirees, she’s given great speeches. She’ll make the Academy feel good."

Best director

Woody Allen ("Midnight in Paris")
Michel Hazanavicius ("The Artist")
Terrence Malick ("The Tree of Life")
Alexander Payne ("The Descendants")
Martin Scorsese ("Hugo")

And last but not least, another difficult choice for director. Some of us, like Pidaparthy and CNN.com writer/producer Henry Hanks, are pulling for Scorsese to take the win, although Hanks agrees it's going to go to Hazanavicius. "Only one directing Oscar for Scorsese is a crime, and he is richly deserving this year," Hanks says. "However, I think Hazanavicius will win, and there’s no doubt 'The Artist' is a directing triumph."