I have an admittedly unhealthy relationship with the Academy Awards. When you see those articles that ask if anybody actually cares about them, I scream at the top of my lungs, “ME! I CARE!” So in that spirit, what follows are my predictions and desires, my hopes and dreams and expectations for how the awards will flow at the 80th Annual Academy Award ceremony.

Best Actor:
Every year are there are some categories that are far gone conclusions. This is one of those years for Best Actor. Daniel Day-Lewis has won seemingly every award in the world for his work as Daniel Plainview, the driven oilman in There Will Be Blood, and nothing will change February 24 as the greatest actor of his generation will pick up his second trophy.

Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
Should Win: Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress:
While it would be silly to bet against Julie Christie, my personal vote goes somewhere else. Ellen Page had the breakout performance of the decade in Juno, and it seems almost a guarantee that she will one day snag this coveted award. Marion Cotillard certainly has her defenders and could pull off the upset, although it is unlikely. Personally, my vote would go to Laura Linney who inhabited a neurotic woman trying to keep herself together with little fuss and maximum empathy in The Savages.

Will Win: Julie Christie
Should Win: Laura Linney

Best Supporting Actor:
Pound for pound, this category offers the most impressive list of nominees among the acting categories. Every single nominee deserves to win, and the case can be made that each of them has a chance. Hal Holbrook is the old veteran playing a very likable part in Into the Wild, Casey Affleck is enjoying his breakout year, Tom Wilkinson manages to play his mentally unhinged lawyer as broadly as possible without straining credibility, Philip Seymour Hoffman is widely considered to be the best American actor of his generation, and Javier Bardem will forever haunt the memory of moviegoers. This is a tough one, but I will call it, friend-o.

Will Win: Javier Bardem
Should Win: Philip Seymour Hoffman

Best Supporting Actress:
This is easily the toughest to call among all the major categories. Amy Ryan is the newcomer who made a huge splash with Gone Baby Gone, Ruby Dee is the old pro nominated for the first time from American Gangster, and Cate Blanchett is revered. All three of them are a real possibility, as is Tilda Swinton for her bloodless corporate drone in Michael Clayton. I’m not sure at all who will win, but I know for sure who I would vote for.

Will Win: Cate Blanchett
Should Win: Cate Blanchett

Best Director:
This is a three-headed/two horse race between the Coen brothers and Paul Thomas Anderson. The Coens took home the Director’s Guild Award, making them a heavy favorite.

Will Win: Joel and Ethan
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Original Screenplay:
It’s down to Diablo Cody vs. Tony Gilroy, and you have to give Cody the edge after she took home the WGA award.

Will Win: Diablo Cody
Should Win: Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, and Jim Capobianco for Ratatouille

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Yet again, this is a Coens vs. PTA showdown, and expect the brothers to triumph once again.

Will Win: Joel and Ethan
Should Win: Paul Thomas Anderson

Best Picture:
For the third time, it comes down to There Will Be Blood and No Country for Old Men. And for the third time, the Coen brothers will triumph.

Will Win: No Country for Old Men
Should Win: There Will Be Blood

As for the rest:
Best Animated Film: Gonna be Ratatouille, as well it should be.

Best Art Direction: Atonement will take this, but it should be There Will Be Blood

Best Cinematography: Another remarkably competitive category where No Country for Old Men triumphs. My vote would go to DP Roger Deakins‘ other film, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.

Best Costume Design: Atonement will pick up this coffee table award, but Elizabeth: The Golden Age would be my selection.

Best Documentary: No End In Sight

Best Editing: Traditionally this goes to the film with the “most” editing so expect The Bourne Ultimatum to conquer, but the Coen brothers deserve it for their mixture of taut thriller and languid moral confusion.

Best Make-Up: La Vie En Rose is the frontrunner, but prepare yourselves because there is a very real chance that Norbit will go down in history as an Academy Award winning movie.

Best Score: Another win for Atonement, but Michael Giacchino’s work in Ratatouille sticks in my memory much more strongly.

Best Song: Falling Slowly from Once should and will win.