Oscar Pool Cheat Sheet – Who’s (Most Likely To) Win

Avatar or The Hurt Locker? Kathryn Bigelow or James Cameron? Following what seems like years of debate over which of the year’s two most-talked-about Oscar nominees are probably going to win, consensus is still impossible to determine.

But, after weeks of kibitzing with friends in and out of the movie industry, here’s the latest buzz on who and what are expected to win in all the Oscar categories, including those pesky short documentary hoo-hahs that always blow folks out of the water.

Anything marked “Stands a Chance” means don’t be too surprised if it wins. Those marked “Outside Chance” are even greater long shots, but still could pull through.

Picture: The Hurt Locker. Stands a Chance: Avatar.

Director: Kathryn Bigelow. Stands a Chance: James Cameron.

Actor: Jeff Bridges.

Actress: Sandra Bullock. Stands a Chance: Meryl Streep

Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz.

Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique.

Animated Feature: Up. Outside Chance: Coraline.

Art Direction: Avatar.

Cinematography: Avatar.

Costume Design: The Young Victoria.

Documentary Feature: The Cove.

Documentary Short: The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant. Stands a Chance: Music by Prudence.

Film Editing: The Hurt Locker.

Foreign Language Film: Das Weisse Band (The White Ribbon). Stands a Chance: Un Prophète (A Prophet).

Makeup: Star Trek.

Original Score: Up.

Original Song: “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart).”

Short Film, Animated: A Matter of Loaf and Death. Outside Chance: Logorama.

Short Film, Live-Action: Kavi.

Sound Editing: The Hurt Locker.

Sound Mixing: Avatar.

Visual Effects: Avatar.

Adapted Screenplay: Up in the Air. Stands a Chance: An Education. Outside Chance: In the Loop.

Original Screenplay: Inglourious Basterds. Stands a Chance: The Hurt Locker.

Show's Running Time: 4 hours, 7 minutes.