Black Sheep predicts the 2013 Academy Awards

It seems like every year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is changing the rules on us. This year, they have moved their nominations announcement date up by nearly two weeks. The purpose is to give the Academy Awards back any credibility they may have lost amidst the barrage of awards coverage and restore their reputation as the only award that really matters.

Doing so meant a shorter period of time to see the eligible films and nominate them. This could affect some of the films released later in the year, as some members may not have had the chance to see them yet. They also introduced electronic voting this year and there were many reports of that system being incredibly difficult to navigate, ending with some voters actually not submitting their nominees. This could mean that some more modern films might have a better chance, as older voters may have struggled the most with the new e-voting system.

Regardless, I think we are looking at a full slate this year. I expect that all 10 Best Picture slots will be filled, and as well they should be, given how many great eligible films there are this year. The following are my predictions in the eight major categories and I expect LINCOLN to pull in the most nominations across the board. The nominations will be announced tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM (EST) by Emma Stone and this year's Oscar host, Seth MacFarlane.

Be sure to check back tomorrow to see how I did and feel free to click on the title of any film listed below to read the original Black Sheep review.

BEST PICTURE

AMOUR
ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
LES MISERABLES
LIFE OF PI
LINCOLN
THE MASTER
MOONRISE KINGDOM
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST DIRECTOR

Ben Affleck for ARGO
Kathryn Bigelow for ZERO DARK THIRTY
Tom Hooper for LES MISERABLES
Ang Lee for LIFE OF PI
Steven Spielberg for LINCOLN

BEST ACTOR

Bradley Cooper for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Daniel Day-Lewis for LINCOLN
John Hawkes for THE SESSIONS
Hugh Jackman for LES MISERABLES
Denzel Washington for FLIGHT

BEST ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain for ZERO DARK THIRTY
Marion Cotillad for RUST AND BONE
Jennifer Lawrence for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Emmanuelle Riva for AMOUR
Naomi Watts for THE IMPOSSIBLE

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Alan Arkin for ARGO
Robert De Niro for SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK
Leonardo DiCaprio for DJANGO UNCHAINED
Philip Seymour Hoffman for THE MASTER
Tommy Lee Jones for LINCOLN

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams for THE MASTER
Sally Field for LINCOLN
Anne Hathaway for LES MISERABLES
Helen Hunt for THE SESSIONS
Maggie Smith for THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

AMOUR
DJANGO UNCHAINED
THE MASTER
MOONRISE KINGDOM
ZERO DARK THIRTY

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

ARGO
BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD
LIFE OF PI
LINCOLN
SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

The full list of nominees will be posted on Black Sheep tomorrow morning. Here's hoping Joaquin Phoenix proves me wrong and gets the Best Actor nod he so rightfully deserves!