For Herald enterainment editor Russell Baillie's Oscar picks, click here. Follow all our Oscars coverage throughout the day on nzherald.co.nz We will bring you the latest from the red carpet - including pictures and our experts' views on this year's fashions - from 11am. Then from around 1pm, we'll be covering all the news and results from the awards ceremony as they happen.
KEY POINTS:
ANT TIMPSON
Founding organiser of 48HOURS Furious Film-Making
Best Film: Letters From Iowa Jima - The only truly worthy film in the best pic race. The rest are mostly froth.
Best Director: Paul Greengrass. Phenomenal execution from a director who is growing with every film he makes. They'll probably give it to Scorsese which is crazy... The Departed was a mediocre work.
Best Actor: Forrest Whitaker/ Ryan Gosling. Both terrific, both should share. Polar opposite performances, one quiet and subtle and one roaring and explosive.
Best Actress: Helen Mirren. Pure class. Even when she keeps her clothes on she's mesmerising.
Best Supporting Actor: Jackie Earle Haley. The comeback kid - he won't win but fantastic to see the little 'Cutter' back on the big screen.
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett. Doesn't need to sing or be cute and she can act circles around her compatriots.
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JOHN DAVIES
Academy Cinema operator
Best Film: For me, it's Little Miss Sunshine. Entertaining and full of insights into the human condition. But for a comic film to take it, is a big ask, so my head pick is Letters from Iwo Jima.
Best Director: I sure hope its Martin Scorsese. Powerhouse film rendering by one of the greatest living movie beings.
Best Actor: Forest Whitaker - you can't fault this performance of one of the world's bloodiest maniacs. Unbelievably powerful.
Best Actress: Helen Mirren - this is just an odds on bet and she is magnificent in the role.
Best Supporting Actor: Alan Arkin - this film deserves every award it's up for and Arkin was fabulous in it.
Best Supporting Actress: My heart's for Abigail Breslin but my head says Cate Blanchett will take it.
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JOANNA HUNKIN
Herald online entertainment reporter
Best Film: Little Miss Sunshine should win, but won't. Following last year's surprise victory for Crash, my money's on the multi-narrative Babel.
Best Director: I think the pity vote will see Scorsese finally claim the statue but there's still a chance Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu could steal it. My guess is whoever wins Best Director will miss out on Best Picture and vice versa.
Best Actor: Brilliant though Forest Whitaker was, I can't help but hope that Peter 'seven times loser' O'Toole finally gets the gong. He's not getting any younger...
Best Actress: Helen Mirren for her uncanny portrayal of Queen Elizabeth. At least we can count on her not to blub inelegantly and harp on about her dead Grandmother.
Best Supporting Actor: The world's coolest grandpa, Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine. As for Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls, he should get his own special award for most over-rated performance nominated at this year's Oscars.
Best Supporting Actress: Little Miss Sunshine herself, Abigail Breslin. Realistically, the gong will go to Jennifer 'you can see my tonsils when I holler/sing' Hudson.
