Oscar nominees announced

The Oscar nominations announced Jan. 24 marked the beginning of the end of awards season, a glamorous time in Hollywood that celebrates beautiful people in mostly beautiful films. So, here is a break down of the nominees for best picture and acting, while predicting the likeliest to win.

No real surprises in the best picture category, except for one extremely loud and incredibly annoying inclusion. The Stephen Daldry 9/11 film, "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" was largely ignored at award ceremonies up until now after being criticized for being heavy-handed and difficult.

Arguably the top three contenders for best picture are Martin Scorsese's 3D homage to cinema, "Hugo" leading with 11 nominations, Alexander Payne's Hawaii family-drama, "The Descendants" and award's darling, silent film "The Artist." Taking just about every Best Picture award this season, the black and white silent film is most likely to take home the big prizes. "War Horse," "Moneyball," "The Tree of Life," "The Help" and "Midnight in Paris" were also nominated for best picture.

Not nominated was David Fincher's slick, and spine-tingling who-done-it, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, nor was "Martha, Marcy, May, Marlene;" though it never was a real contender outside of the best actress category for Elizabeth Olsen. I very much hoped it could pull a "Winter's Bone" and sneak in as one of the year's haunting indie favorites (both did have John Hawkes after all).

Best supporting actress is likely to go to Jessica Chastain or Octavia Spencer from the audience favorite, "The Help." Chastain, who appeared in seven films last year, was bound to get some sort of recognition. However, Melissa McCarthy's turn as the show-stealing unapologetic guy's girl in "Bridesmaids" is also a strong contender. Bérénice Bejo ("The Artist") and Janet McTeer ("Albert Noobs") were also nominated for best supporting actress.

Christopher Plummer, basically has it in the bag for best supporting actor, as an elderly father coming out to his son in "Beginners," one of my favorite 2011 films. The Academy has a thing for gay characters, as Sean Penn bluntly pointed out when accepting his best actor award for "Milk" and Plummer's delightful performance just might get him gold. Also nominated, Kenneth Branagh for his theatrical portrayal of Sir Laurence Olivier ("My Week with Marilyn"), Jonah Hill ("Moneyball"), Nick Nolte ("Warrior") and Max von Sydow ("Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close").

Since word got around that Meryl Streep was playing British Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, her Academy award was pretty much safe when it came to Best Actress award then, Viola Davis ("The Help") delivered a moving performance as an African American maid in 1960s Mississippi. Only to be followed by Michelle William's take on the troubled icon in "My Week with Marilyn," Rooney Mara's chilling portrayal of Lisbeth Salander and Glenn Close's gender-bending "Albert Nobes," tightening the race ever more.

Mara is the most outstanding of the nominees playing a fierce girl with dragon tattoo. It is probably, however, Davis or Streep who have a real chance. Catching her seventeenth nomination and fresh off her Golden Globe win, Streep is likeliest to get it. And if her acceptance speech is just as messy and she, just as possibly drunk, well, why not?

Hollywood heavyweights, George Clooney ("The Descendants") and Brad Pitt ("Moneyball") each grabbed a nomination for best actor. As well as French actor, Jean Dujardin ("The Artist") and Gary Oldman for his captivating stare behind those tick-rimmed glasses in "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy."

Not nominated, Leonardo DiCaprio, who's been notoriously ignored by the academy lately, and Michael Fassbender for his exposing performance in "Shame." Out of nowhere, Demián Bichir rightfully snagged a nomination for his heart-wrenching and low-key performance as a Mexican father who'd do anything for his son by following relentlessly the American dream. Bichir deserves the statue in my book, but Clooney will more than likely win.

Hosted by Billy Crystal, the 84th Academy Awards ceremony will be aired on ABC Feb. 26.

Andres Rodriguez may be reached at prospector@utep.edu.