The 2011 Academy Awards BDN staffers weigh in

The critics:

Eric Russell, city reporter and opinionated fan of cinema ingeneral

Emily Burnham, lifestyle reporter and avid movie-goer

Joel Crabtree, copy editor and guest blogger for WeekinRewind.com

Travis Gass, copy editor and snob about both film and music

Best Picture

Will win:

Russell: The King's Speech

Burnham: The Social Network

Crabtree: The King's Speech

Gass: The King's Speech

Should win:

Russell: The Social Network

Burnham: The Social Network

Crabtree: Inception

Gass: The Social Network

Why?

Gass: It seems like the critical consensus is starting to buildfor "The King's Speech," but "The Social Network" is poised to beone of those films that defines the time we're living in. Thecentral paradox of Zuckerberg working to bring people togetheronline while failing to make any lasting social connections in reallife is one of the defining issues of the Internet era.

Russell: "The Social Network," with its frenetic pace and whip-smart dialogue, embodies the current tech-savvy generation betterthan any film to date, but "The King's Speech" is a gorgeouslyphotographed, acted and designed period piece that also has afascinating storyline. It's the perfect Academy movie.

Best Director

Will win:

Russell: Tom Hooper, The King's Speech

Burnham: David Fincher, The Social Network

Crabtree: Tom Hooper

Gass: Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

Should win:

Russell: David Fincher

Burnham: Darren Aronofsky

Crabtree: David Fincher

Gass: Darren Aronofsky

Why?

Crabtree: Tom Hooper's a great filmmaker, but David Fincherdeserves recognition for "The Social Network," which is generallyregarded as the best-reviewed film of the year. Will he get it?Doubtful.

Gass: Aronofsky's pitch-black ballet psychodrama expertly buildstension as it progresses, while keeping the audience wonderingwhat's real and what's a product of Natalie Portman's character'smental breakdown.

Best Actor

Will win:

Russell: Colin Firth, The King's Speech

Burnham: Colin Firth

Crabtree: Colin Firth

Gass: Colin Firth

Should win:

Russell: Colin Firth

Burnham: Colin Firth

Crabtree: James Franco, 127 Hours

Gass: Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

Why?

Russell: It's not exactly an off year, but Colin Firth, for hisperformance as the stuttering King George VI in The King's Speech,has this locked up. James Franco could challenge for his role asreal-life hiker-amputee Aron Ralston in 127 Hours, but Firth, whohas a history of solid, understated roles, would be a well-deservedwinner.

Crabtree: As incredible as Colin Firth is in "The King's Speech,"James Franco's portrayal of Aron Ralston in "127 Hours" remains myfavorite performance of the year.

Best Actress

Will win:

Russell: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Burnham: Natalie Portman

Crabtree: Natalie Portman

Gass: Natalie Portman

Should win:

Russell: Natalie Portman

Burnham: Natalie Portman

Crabtree: Natalie Portman

Gass: Natalie Portman

Why?

Russell: Front-runner Natalie Portman, as a tormented balletdancer in "Black Swan," will be challenged by Annette Bening, thepassive-aggressive half of a lesbian couple in "The Kids Are AllRight," but it's almost impossible to compare the performances.Bening's is subtle and utterly believable but, physically andemotionally, Portman embodied the troubled soul of a top-notchballet dancer.

Burnham: Though a part of me wants to root for Annette Bening,who feels almost tangibly real in her role in "The Kids Are AllRight," I know in my gut that Natalie Portman deserves it. Talkabout method acting: the woman became the character in nearly everyway. It is a deep, difficult, utterly mesmerizing performance, andwith it she establishes herself as a formidable dramatic force.

Best Support Actor

Will win:

Russell: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Burnham: Christian Bale

Crabtree: Christian Bale

Gass: Christian Bale

Should win:

Russell: Christian Bale

Burnham: Jeremy Renner, The Town

Crabtree: Christian Bale

Gass: Christian Bale

Why?

Crabtree: That Christian Bale hadn't been nominated for an Oscarbefore, "The Fighter" kind of shocks me. I'm glad to see it finallyhappen.

Burnham: With all due respect to Christian Bale, I believe thatJeremy Renner is one of the best actors currently in the business.There's such explosive energy inside every performance I've seen himgive, and he's the best part of "The Town," playing a bank robberready to snap at any moment.

Best Supporting Actress

Will win:

Russell: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Burnham: Melissa Leo

Crabtree: Melissa Leo

Gass: Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

Should win:

Russell: Amy Adams, The Fighter

Burnham: Hailee Steinfeld, True Grit

Crabtree: Hailee Steinfeld

Gass: Melissa Leo

Why?

Burnham: Hailee Steinfeld should have been nominated for BestActress, and I think she was equally as good as Natalie Portman - ina totally different way, however. Her determination and steadfast,true heart (or, shall we say, "True Grit"), carries the entiremovie. She makes Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon play second fiddle toher. Incredible.

Russell: This category always features surprises so, if thatholds true, look for "True Grit" protagonist Hailee Steinfield totake the statue. If not, co-stars Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, fortheir roles in "The Fighter," could duke it out. Leo's matriarchalrole was showier, but Adams, who often plays the princess or squeaky-clean female lead, showed considerable edge and brought great depthto the "girlfriend" role.

And who was cruelly ignored?

Burnham: Pixar will never win anything other than Best AnimatedFeature because Academy voters still think cartoons are for littlekids, but "Toy Story 3" really was wonderful. I also think it's justplain wrong that the Academy probably won't give Best Documentary to"Exit Through the Gift Shop" simply because world famous graffitiartist Banksy refuses to reveal his true identity after more than 20years of living anonymously. It's a great film about the meaning ofart in today's world, and it should be seen by a lot more people.

Crabtree: Not nominating Christopher Nolan ("Inception") for bestdirector is the biggest injustice of the year. Andrew Garfield'sabsence in the supporting actor category for his work in "The SocialNetwork" is a close second. I also wouldn't have minded seeing DannyBoyle get a Best Director nod for "127 Hours."