Click through the gallery to see clips from all the nominees, followed by predictions from WTOP Film Critic Jason Fraley.
Who Should Win: Chiwetel Ejifor
Chiwetel Ejifor is hot off a BAFTA win for best actor and he deserves to win at the Oscars. His performance was the best of the year, but he'll most likely have to "wait his turn" as the Academy looks to honor two overdue fan favorites: Leonardo DiCaprio or Matthew McConaughey.
Who Could Win: Leo DiCaprio
Leo DiCaprio had a big year with both "The Great Gatsby" and "The Wolf of Wall Street," and after his Golden Globe win for best actor in a comedy or musical, he could finally get his due after "What's Eating Gilbert Grape," "Titanic," "Gangs of New York," "The Aviator," "Blood Diamond," "The Departed," "Revolutionary Road," "Shutter Island," "Inception" and "Django: Unchained."
Who Will Win: Matthew McConaughey
Just like McConaughey stole the show from Leo in his chest pounding cameo in "The Wolf of Wall Street," expect him to steal the Oscar here. Exactly 20 years after "Dazed and Confused" (1993), McConaughey delivered three strong roles this year, from "Wolf" to "Mud" to "Dallas Buyers Club," for which he lost tons of weight to play a homophobic man who contracts HIV. After wins at the Golden Globes and SAG Awards, this looks like his year. So in the words of McConaughey with that infectious southern drawl: "Alright, alright, alright."
