Oscar fans across the globe will see the stars, cheer for their favorite nominees, and vote for those actors, directors, and producers they think will win on Sunday, February 27, when hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway roll out the red carpet for the 83rd Oscars.

With more than 20 categories and more than 120 nominees, the Academy has its work cut out for it. Here are my picks for the major awards..

Best Picture is the largest category and the last award announced. Now with 10 nominees, this category will be one of the toughest to whittle down.

Winners have been all over the map at other recent award ceremonies, but three films that keep rising to the top are “The Social Network,” “The King’s Speech” and “True Grit.”

While all three do deserve the award for one reason or another, the film that stood out for me was “The Social Network.”

Granted, it reaches a younger audience, and some may say that the Academy will favor something tried and true, but this film is really riveting.

Best Picture:
The Social Network Close Second: True Grit

The Best Director award usually goes hand in hand with whoever wins Best Picture, but not always.

This year, Joel Coen and Ethan Coen received a nomination for True Grit, but they were ignored at most other award shows, with David Fincher (The Social Network) coming out victorious in every one. The fact that they were included in this list may give them the upper hand. If “The Social Network” wins Best Picture, then the Coen brothers’ remake of “True Grit” should take home the Oscar.

Best Director:
The Coen brothers
Close Second:
David Fincher

The Best Actor category has its share of amazing actors, but when the dust settles the race will be between last year’s winner, Jeff Bridges, and two-time nominee Colin Firth.

This is Firth’s year. He has turned in some great work in the past and his brilliant work in “The King’s Speech” should bring him a long overdue win. Bridges has had a great year. “True Grit” was astounding, and he brought such warmth and class to “Tron: Legacy,” but not enough for a back-to-back win.

Best Actor: Colin Firth
Close Second: Jeff Bridges

In the category of Best Actress, Natalie Portman in Black Swan has walked away with most of the awards this season, but Annette Bening has yet again turned in a solid, effective and moving performance in “The Kids Are All Right.”

Bening has been nominated four times and has been a close second each time. This should be her year. Portman is a great actress and has plenty of great scripts and many years to look forward to. Losing this year won’t cramp her style.

Best Actress: Annette Bening Close Second: Natalie Portman

Best Supporting Actor usually has an upset or is given to someone who has been nominated many times before but hasn’t won. This year the race is a tough one. Most everyone on the list deserves the nomination and the award, except Jeremy Renner. If he won, it would definitely be an upset.

But this race will be between Geoffrey Rush and Christian Bale, with Bale taking home the award for his amazing performance in “The Fighter.” Rush is a great actor, has been nominated countless times and won a Best Actor Award in 1996 for “Shine.” As amazing as he is in “The King’s Speech,” this year belongs to Bale.

Best Supporting Actor: Christian Bale
Close Second: Geoffrey Rush

Best Supporting Actress nominations are never free from controversy. But this year might be the one year where everyone nominated deserved to be. The performances were great across the board, so this will be a category to watch, and the toughest to pick.

The race will most likely be between Melissa Leo for “The Fighter” and Helena Bonham Carter, for The King’s Speech, but watch for an upset at the last second from Amy Adams or newcomer 14-year-old Hallee Steifeld from Thousand Oaks, CA. While Leo has been winning every award for this category, her co-star Adams could upset her. Adams has been showing many different sides of her acting abilities and could easily surprise in this category.

Best Supporting Actress: Melissa Leo
Close Second: Amy Adams

The remaining categories, from Best Foreign Film to Best Original Screenplay, are chock full of talented nominees that deserve just as much kudos as the major, more watched categories, so plan an Oscar party or just order in and grab a drink and enjoy the evening.