Will Oscar Voters Get Social?

A little more than a month ago, this year's Oscar ceremony was looking like it'd be a big snooze. Again. Not including the unpredictability of hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco, we knew what was going to happen awards-wise: The Social Network had taken all the major critics prizes and the Golden Globe award for Best Motion Picture (Drama). It, along with director David Fincher, screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, seemed assured of cruising to the Oscars knowing they'd be winners that night too. Same goes for Colin Firth and Natalie Portman, and David Seidler, screenwriter of The King's Speech.

But then The King's Speech received 12 Oscar nominations and started winning major guild prizes — including the SAG and DGA — and the tide was turned. But when Social Network won the editors' guild award, that may have turned the tide back; the editors are a reliable predictor of industry leanings for Best Picture. Now there are fewer sure things, even though pundits everywhere are predicting King's Speech to win Best Picture. Other races have gotten much closer as well, including Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress. That's going to make for what I hope is a fun and exciting ceremony.

If you still haven't cast votes in your own Oscar pool, Firth, Portman, Sorkin, Seidler, Toy Story 3 for Best Animated Feature, and Inception for Best Visual Effects are all good, smart bets. My money's still on Social Network (my favorite movie of 2010) to win Best Picture, and I'm still pulling for Fincher, Reznor, and Ross to win their categories too. Want to know what else I'm picking? Here's my ballot:

Yes, I'm really excited about this year's Oscar show. I saw 60 movies last year. My hopes are high. I wrote a blog post about the Oscars for work. I'm planning to sit in front of the TV starting at around 6 p.m. for all the pre-show coverage, and I'll likely stay up to catch some post-show action too. (Yes, I'm expecting to be tired on Monday.) Want to know my reactions to what's happening? I'll probably be tweeting my thoughts during the show. Oscar night is my Super Bowl, my Election Night, and I'm looking forward to a real prize fight — hoping that The Social Network comes out on top, of course.

Who are you rooting for?