By Eliza Rosenberry

Amid the ruckus surrounding the Writer’s Guild of America strike, a few films have been quietly awarded Oscar nominations. Hey, we’re all going to be watching E! for celebrity fashion missteps before the show – we might as well know what the show is all about. Here are the Oscar nominations and my own picks, complete with analysis: what should happen, what will happen and why some films should never have been nominated.

Best Actor in a Leading Role Nominees: George Clooney (“Michael Clayton”), Daniel Day-Lewis (“There Will Be Blood”), Johnny Depp (“Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”), Tommy Lee Jones (“In the Valley of Elah”), Viggo Mortensen (“Eastern Promises”). My pick is Day-Lewis. This guy does one movie every five years because his devotion to each role is so intense and consuming. His forceful lines and impassioned portrayal transcend characterization to evoke a reality that is overwhelming. Day-Lewis is the favorite, but watch for Clooney to upset with a quality (if slightly boring) role as a New York City law office “fixer.”

Best Actress in a Leading Role Nominees: Cate Blanchett (“Elizabeth: The Golden Age”), Julie Christie (“Away From Her”), Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), Laura Linney (“The Savages”), Ellen Page (“Juno”). Out of the movies these actresses are nominated for, the one most likely to have been seen by many college students is “Juno.” Don’t get me wrong; Page’s acting and the quirky comedy-drama are charming and witty, if a little superficial. But really? An Oscar? Page might surprise in this category, or perhaps a more deserving Cotillard for her portrayal of French songstress Edith Piaf. But Christie is mesmerizing as an Alzheimer’s patient in “Away From Her.” Some worry her nomination is based on her age and reputation, but her performance is outstanding.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominees: Casey Affleck (“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford”), Javier Bardem (“No Country for Old Men”), Philip Seymour Hoffman (“Charlie Wilson’s War”), Hal Holbrook (“Into the Wild”), Tom Wilkinson (“Michael Clayton”). This one should be Bardem – no contest. He’s been haunting viewer’s dreams with his weird air-shooting device ever since the Coen brothers’ “No Country” was released. Ben Affleck’s little brother Casey could upset, but the chances are small. This is Bardem’s year.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees: Cate Blanchett (“I’m Not There”), Ruby Dee (“American Gangster”), Saoirse Ronan (“Atonement”), Amy Ryan (“Gone Baby Gone”), Tilda Swinton (“Michael Clayton”). I didn’t like “I’m Not There,” but Blanchett nailed a difficult performance. You forget she’s a woman, you forget she’s an actress – you forget she’s not really Bob Dylan. The Academy tends to vote in favor of biographical portrayals, so she’s got a good shot. Ryan is the next top contender in my opinion, but her performance is gritty and Blanchett’s is smoother. One’s not necessarily better than the other, but I predict Blanchett will walk away with the statue.

Best Director Nominees: Julian Schnabel (“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”), Jason Reitman (“Juno”), Tony Gilroy (“Michael Clayton”), Joel and Ethan Coen (“No Country for Old Men”), Paul Thomas Anderson (“There Will Be Blood”). Schnabel’s film, hands-down, is the most beautiful, touching and passionately directed movie I saw this year. He’s a painter-turned-filmmaker and every shot composition, character portrayal and scene development is a piece of artwork. Schnabel’s direction absolutely deserves the win. That said, “No Country” is popularly predicted to triumph in this category, and not for bad reasons – the Coens are masters in creating a haunting, twisted, suspenseful film. Anderson could win, but “There Will Be Blood” relies too strongly on Day-Lewis’s performance as opposed to Anderson’s direction.

Best Picture Nominees: “Atonement,” “Juno,” “Michael Clayton,” “No Country for Old Men,” “There Will Be Blood.” “No Country” owns this category. Upsets could include “Juno” (God forbid) or “There Will Be Blood.” It’s fair to say that the Coens’ film and Anderson’s have some similarities: both are set in the West, both deal with morality (“No Country” through death and justice, “Blood” with humanity and capitalism), but ultimately “No Country for Old Men” raises the stakes. The movie doesn’t just depend on one great actor’s performance, but rather the combined efforts of all involved aspects.

Other Picks Animated Feature: “Persepolis” Documentary Feature: “Taxi to the Dark Side” Foreign Language Film: I don’t know, because Romania’s “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” got gypped of a nomination. Song: “Once” (“Falling Slowly”) Adapted Screenplay: “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” Original Screenplay: “Juno” will almost certainly win this for stripper-turned-writer Diablo Cody, but I can’t root for her. Phrases like “Honest to blog” shouldn’t be Oscar-worthy.