The Oscars are almost upon us and speculation is high as to who is going to walk off with the coveted gold statue in their chosen category.

The competition is more fierce than ever in most of the categories, although why anyone other than Toy Story bothers to turn up for Best Animated film is beyond me.

Many will predict The King’s Speech to preform well especially after it dominated at the Globes and BAFTAS but with many things in life I like to see an upset, and I’m sure there is going to be more than one surprise on the night.

So lets have a look at the main categories that everyone is going to have their eye on.

Best Picture

Contenders: Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kid’s Are All Right, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, Winter’s Bone

Who we’d like to win: Inception was my favourite film of last year, it had everything from brilliant cinematography, special effects and a water tight script that even though it seemed over complicated was easy to follow. Despite Nolan not being nominated for Best Director it would be fitting if his film walked off with Best Picture.

Who’ll actually win: The King’s Speech and The Social Network are going to be fighting this one out, both have done well at previous awards with David Fincher pipping Tom Hooper to Best Director at the BAFTAS while Hooper’s film dominated the rest of that particular night.

The acting was exceptional from both and it would be hard to call, however I think The King’s Speech will have too much in the end.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Contenders: Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Jesse Eisenberg, Colin Firth, James Franco

Who we’d like to win: It’s not that I have any animosity towards The King’s Speech I just feel that there are so many films that got over looked. However, in this list there is only one man who stands out, and while we’d love to see someone like James Franco or Jesses Eisenberg win, this award is going back across the pond.

Who’ll actually win: No question at all the Colin Firth deserves this one, it was be a major upset if he didn’t get it. His performance of a stuttering King George VI was sublime and paramount to the film’s global success.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Contenders: Annette Bening, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lawrence, Natalie Portman, Michelle Williams

Who we’d like to win: There are some experienced actresses here with Annette Bening being nominated for the fourth time and Nicole Kidman already a past winner. But they face stiff competition from the other three of Lawrence, Portman and Williams. Honestly we’d love to see Williams or Lawrence take the award but those odds are just too far off reality.

Who’ll actually win: Natalie Portman’s dedication (she put herself through ballet school self funded) to this film is conveyed in her performance of both the white and black swan.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role

Contenders: Christian Bale, John Hawkes, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Geoffery Rush

Who we’d like to win: For us Christian Bale is most deserving of this category, like Portman his dedication to his roles has been plain to see from the likes of the The Machinest to Rescue Dawn. Here again he shed more weight and looked a different man to play heroin addict and former boxing great Dicky Eklund.

Who’ll actually win: Bale scooped the Golden Globe for this one back at the start of the year and may just edge it here, but I wouldn’t count out Geoffrey Rush.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role

Contenders: Amy Adams, Helena Bonham Carter, Mellissa Leo, Hailee Steinfeld, Jacki Weaver

Who we’d like to win: Having been suitably impressed with The Fighter there is good reason for the likes of Amy Adams and Mellissa Leo to be in strong contention for this one. The young Hailee Steinfeld also put in an experienced and assured display despite her relatively young age in True Grit.

Who’ll actually win: There is only one woman who is going to take this crown, and Helena Bonham Carter is all but guaranteed this one.

Best Director

Contenders: Darren Aronofsky, David O. Russell, Tom Hooper, David Fincher, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Who we’d like to win: Christopher Nolan…oh wait he’s not been nominated! We can’t quite work out why he’s been overlooked but that shouldn’t detract from the talent that have been nominated. David Fincher threw a cat amoungst the pigeopns by taking the gong at the BAFTAS when all thought Tom Hooper was going to get it.

We’d love to see Fincher make it back to back wins, but something in the air tells us it might not go according to plan.

Who’ll actually win: We’re going to stick our neck on the line here and go with Aronofsky. Black Swan was a brilliant film and is certainly one of the outside chances I think this will be one of a few Oscar surprises on the night.

Music (Original Score)

Contenders: John Powell (How to Train Your Dragon), Hans Zimmer (Inception), Alexandre Desplat (The King’s Speech), A.R. Rahman (127 Hours), Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (The Social Network)

Who we’d like to win: These are the guys that put the added moments of tension or create vast amounts of emotion throughout a film. Best Musical Score is always hotly contested and there are some great contenders here, ideally we think Hans Zimmer should collect this one. He has worked on some of the biggest film blockbusters over the years and produced some memorable music to which are now famous.

Who’ll actually win: It might be another of the close calls, Alexandre Desplat is sure to be up there and even Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for The Social Network might get a look in. Desplat won the BAFTA for Best Score at the start of the year so I’m wondering if this will carry into the Oscars.

I can’t separate Zimmer or Desplat, but personally I’d lean more towards Zimmer.