Here we go, down to the wire ... with the Oscars on Sunday night. The male acting races are pretty much locked up for Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will Be Blood") and Javier Bardem ("No Country For Old Men") -- congratulations guys. So I'm betting it's the female categories that will give us our traditional surprise (or two) of the night.

Best actress seemed to be Julie Christie's award after she took the SAG and Globe for "Away From Her." But I dunno. Marion Cotillard delivers the better performance in "La Vie En Rose," though the fact that it's all in French could hurt her. Do you think the two might cancel each other out, leaving room for an Ellen Page/"Juno" upset?

As for supporting actress, it's always the hardest to predict. Ruby Dee ("American Gangster") had a slow awards-season start, but she's now the frontrunner. Too bad for her, the frontrunner usually doesn't win this category -- especially when you people use words like "sentimental favorite" (just ask Lauren Bacall or Gloria Stuart). Cate Blanchett would probably win for her Dylan turn, had she not already won for being Hepburn. The Academy loves "Michael Clayton," and if Tilda Swinton wins, she'll be this year's Marcia Gay Harden. But I think Amy Ryan, who was mesmerizing in "Gone Baby Gone," is the safest gamble.

Stay tuned. I'll post my full predictions on Friday (once I've changed my mind a couple more times).

NEWSWEEK's David Ansen and Devin Gordon talk to Academy Award nominees George Clooney, Angelina Jolie, Daniel Day-Lewis, Ellen Page, James McAvoy and Marion Cotillard: