IF I HAD AN OSCAR BALLOT...

... It would look an awful lot like this. And keep in mind, while I LOVED movies like Bellflower & Hesher, I'm not sure I'd put them on an OSCAR ballot. They're perfect for my personal Top 10, but these are movies that realistically might have a chance, however small, of getting serious awards recognition.

BEST PICTURE

50/50
Beginners
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
The Ides of March
Moneyball
Super 8
Warrior
Win Win

BEST DIRECTOR

Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Steve McQueen, Shame
Bennett Miller, Moneyball
Gavin O’Connor, Warrior
Nicolas Winding Refn, Drive

BEST ACTOR

Demian Bichir, A Better Life
Michael Fassbender, Shame
Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Michael Shannon, Take Shelter

BEST ACTRESS

Olivia Colman, Tyrannosaur
Viola Davis, The Help
Elizabeth Olsen, Martha Marcy May Marlene
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Charlize Theron, Young Adult

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Patton Oswalt, Young Adult
Corey Stoll, Midnight in Paris

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Jessica Chastain, The Help
Elle Fanning, Super 8
Bryce Dallas Howard, The Help
Carey Mulligan, Shame
Octavia Spencer, The Help

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

50/50
A Better Life
Midnight in Paris
Win Win
Young Adult

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Descendants
Drive
The Ides of March
Moneyball
The Skin I Live In