Best Motion Picture of the Year nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Crash. Hands down. This film has a stellar cast, script, direction and concept. Not only should Crash be rewarded for tackling the thorny issue of race without preaching, but the statements are backed up with a brilliant story line.

Will win: Brokeback Mountain. This was the movie with the buzz and controversy Hollywood loves. Brokeback has consistently been rewarded with top honors, and the streak will continue.

Paul's picks

Should and will win: Brokeback Mountain. Didn't see Capote, although I'm sure it's fantastic. Good Night and Good Luck put style way too far above substance given its subject matter. If you stripped Munich of its 10 minutes of politics, what you're left with could've been a Vin Diesel movie. Crash made some excellent points about race relations in this country, and then beat you over the head with them. Brokeback Mountain was one of the most tender, most compelling and most real love stories put to film in ages, and all the controversy and bad jokes aside, it positively towered over every other movie this year.

Nicole's picks

Should win: Crash is refreshing in that it exposes the slightly tabooed topic of underlying racism that exists in the form of assumptions and stereotypes. The movie focuses on all entities of society and how they are making progress toward the elimination of prejudices.

Will win: Munich is more than a film about the 1972 Olympic Games; it also lends a different and controversial view about terrorism. At first, it is a film about secretive revenge, but the concluding point, which can be applied today, states that attempting to eradicate terrorism can often lead to pointless violence.

Achievement in Directing nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Spielberg. Munich was a masterpiece in directing, and his trademark combination of large-scale epic scenes and quiet, intense close shots should take the prize.

Will win: Lee for Brokeback Mountain. Hollywood is practically coming up with new awards to give this man.

Paul's picks

Should win: I have my problems with the heavy-handed Crash, but props go to Haggis for making it an immensely watchable message-movie.

Will win: Lee. This is Brokeback's year, and Mr. Lee -- who can lose this award only if the Academy is still as mad about Hulk as I am -- was the man at the helm.

Nicole's Picks

Should win: Stephen Gaghan gets kudos for writing and directing Syriana, which is political and an all-together timely release. Gaghan must have known that although Syriana is about oil, oil is about everything.

Will win: Spielberg found the material of Munich to be so sensitive that it was completely kept quiet until its release. With his vast experience in directing and influence in Hollywood, he is a top contender for this nomination.

Best Performance by an Actress nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Huffman consistently delivers in whatever project she tackles. Transamerica is a risky independent film no other A-lister would touch, and Huffman threw herself into the role.

Will win: It's going to be a toss-up between Huffman and Witherspoon. I think Huffman will squeak by with a win, helped by her years in the industry and the clout of her husband, William H. Macy, with Oscar voters.

Paul's picks

Should win: Probably Huffman, because unlike Hilary Swank, she's really not all that believable as a man in real life.

Will win: Witherspoon, who deserves the award just as much as Ms. Huffman for her heartbreaking, career-high role as beleaguered wife June Carter Cash.

Nicole's Picks

Should win: Theron in North Country is repeatedly sexually harassed at her predominantly male coal mining workplace. She proves to be more than a weepy-eyed lead and takes a stand that will inspire anyone who watches.

Will win: Desperate housewife Huffman will get attention for transforming herself from a beautiful woman to portraying a transgender struggling to discover a true identity in Transamerica.

Best Performance by an Actor nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Hoffman is a master actor. He's rarely recognized by mainstream America, partially because of his complete physical and behavioral transformations for every role he plays.

Will win: Hoffman has been cleaning up at nearly every awards ceremony. Ledger will give him a run for his money, but I'll bet on Hoffman.

Paul's picks

Should win: Ledger. Dude was in 10 Things I Hate About You not that long ago, and now this. Talk about your turnarounds.

Will win: Hoffman, he's been fantastic in virtually everything he's ever been in, and apparently managed to top himself with Capote.

Nicole's Picks

Should win: Phoenix transforms into Johnny Cash, like Jamie Foxx transformed himself in Ray. The actor flawlessly portrays a battle with a drug addiction, a Cash-like demeanor and a singing voice to give a stellar performance.

Will win: Ledger's character in Brokeback Mountain was taught to hate homosexuality and, therefore, disregard his feelings. But by the time Ledger's emotions for his fellow cowboy evolve from a strong bond to love, the viewer forgets all the controversy surrounding this movie.

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Weisz and Williams both earned this award for their roles. Both actresses branched out from earlier, fluffier work.

Will win: This is one of the tightest races, but Weisz will win for her work in The Constant Gardener.

Paul's picks

Should and will win: I have to confess I've only seen one of these movies, and Williams wasn't nearly as good in Brokeback as she was as the recovering harlot in Dawson's Creek. And I like Keener, and I love that she plays Harper Lee, and since this one seems to be anybody's race, I'll go for her.

Nicole's Picks

Should win: When Williams becomes aware of her husband's affair with another man, her emotional distress is painted all over the screen. She proves she is light years from Dawson's Creek as she hides her torn feelings for years, which results in a climactic explosion of emotion that only a talented actress could execute.

Will win: Keener plays Capote's childhood friend Harper Lee. She held her own with the rest of the accomplished cast and a previous nomination for best supporting actress in Being John Malkovich won't hurt her either.

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role nominees:

Kathryn's picks

Should win: Dillon brought humanity to the difficult role of a racist cop in Crash and should be rewarded for portraying that tough balance.

Will win: Like it or not, this is Clooney's year, and though he's nominated in several categories, he will most likely win this one for Syriana.

Paul's picks

Should win: Were I on the Academy, I'd put in for Giamatti as a protest vote after being shut out last year for Sideways.

But Hurt's all-too-brief turn as a charismatic mob boss was the icing on A History of Violence's mind-bending layer cake.

Will win: Dillon, because they've gotta give Crash something.

Nicole's picks

Should win: Dillon is an arrogant, racist cop who, in my opinion, gave the strongest performance in Crash.

In the beginning of the film, he seems vile and hateful, but by the end, the plot takes a different turn in which Dillon's character is faced saving the same woman who he originally racially stereotyped.

Will win: Gyllenhaal, in Brokeback Mountain, is a cowboy in love with a fellow rancher. He proves himself a talented actor by changing even little mannerisms to portray his love.