"American Beauty"

"The Cider House Rules"

"The Green Mile"

"The Insider"

"The Sixth Sense"

Carly: "American Beauty." I had no idea that time was even passing when I saw this movie. The story flowed into a compelling and provocative collage of a middle-class American family. If this movie doesn't win, it will be a grave injustice to the advancement of the arts.

Matt: "American Beauty." This movie amazed me. Everything from top to bottom — acting, script, music, etc. — was wonderful. The only other movies that approached this one were not nominated, placing "American Beauty" head and shoulders above the competition.

Shawn: "American Beauty." A deeply cynical, yet vividly directed, masterpiece that built off of Robert Redford's "Ordinary People." Kevin Spacey, Wes Bentley, Annette Bening and cast all give terrific performances.

Tom: "American Beauty." Aside from being one of the most quotable movies of the past year, "American Beauty" actually moved some tears out of my cold, cynical heart. Impressive to say the least.

Will Win: "American Beauty." Why? Read above.

Russell Crowe, "The Insider"

Richard Farnsworth, "The Straight Story"

Sean Penn, "Sweet and Lowdown"

Kevin Spacey, "American Beauty"

Denzel Washington, "The Hurricane"

Carly: Kevin Spacey, "American Beauty." Every movie I have ever seen him in, his characters have taken over the screen and overridden the plot of the movie. He is truly one of the most fabulous actors today and his performance in "American Beauty" reiterates this.

Matt: Kevin Spacey, "American Beauty." In American Beauty, Spacey proved again why he is the best actor working today. His performance is filled with layers and subtleties that many actors would not attempt, let alone pull off so flawlessly.

Shawn: Russell Crowe, "The Insider." The most brilliant performance of the year gives "The Insider" its dark, noirish edge. He's the odd favorite that deserves clout, especially for his snubbed role in Curtis Hanson's "L.A. Confidential" back in 1997.

Tom: Kevin Spacey, "American Beauty." "I'm just an ordinary guy with nothing left to lose," Spacey said in "American Beauty" and fired up the hearts and passions of the audience.

Will Win: Russell Crowe. There's a whirlwind of publicity around him. Can't beat that.

Annette Bening, "American Beauty"

Janet McTeer, "Tumbleweeds"

Julianne Moore, "The End of the Affair"

Meryl Streep, "Music of the Heart"

Hilary Swank, "Boys Don't Cry"

Carly: Annette Bening, "American Beauty." Not only is she beautiful, dynamic and extraordinarily talented, she's married to Warren Beatty, this year's winner of the Irving Thalberg Memorial Award. Her performance in "American Beauty" was fantastic; both husband and wife will leave the Oscars with a statue.

Matt: Hilary Swank, "Boys Don't Cry." Swank was not only the year's best actress, she gave the single-best performance of the year. For much of the movie, it is impossible to know whether her character is actually a man or a woman. Swank does not appear to be acting; she became Brandon Teena.

Shawn: Hilary Swank, "Boys Don’t Cry." The indie newcomer is not a definite shoo-in, but her breakthrough role as Brandon Teena is sure to take notice. Even though, hypothetically, the Oscars isn't really the place where cutting-edge is noticed. For example, "Being John Malkovich" was not nominated for Best Picture.

Tom: Hilary Swank, "Boys Don't Cry." The trend of handing it to the most dead-on performance by a cross dresser started with Dustin Hoffman in "Tootsie" and continued all the way up to last year's "Shakespeare in Love" and its nod to Gwyneth Paltrow in drag. There's just something unstoppable about nominees that cross gender bounds

Will Win: Hilary Swank. Her heartbreaking performance is worthy of the award.

Michael Caine, "The Cider House Rules"

Tom Cruise, "Magnolia"

Michael Clarke Duncan, "The Green Mile"

Jude Hall, "The Talented Mr. Ripley"

Hale Joel Osment, "The Sixth Sense"

Carly: Michael Caine, "The Cider House Rules." Caine is an experienced and highly talented actor who has never won an Oscar. He's deserving of one and the Academy will give one to him.

Matt: Tom Cruise, "Magnolia." With this role, Cruise went from being a decent actor that everyone liked to a well-respected artist with range. It is his third nomination, and this time he will take it home.

Shawn: Tom Cruise, "Magnolia." The testosterone-fueled anger present in Cruise's self-satirizing performance is so dominant in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Magnolia," that the film's amphibious conclusion seems anti-climactic.

Tom: Tom Cruise, "Magnolia." Though the Academy kept its nominee books wide shut from Stanley Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut," Cruise still has a chance to have his talent recognized in "Magnolia." This was a breakthrough year for Tom Cruise and proved he has the ability to go far and away beyond his past days of thunder and into the risky business of serious dramatic acting.

Will Win: Michael Caine. The veteran, best of the best, will take this category.

Toni Collette, "The Sixth Sense"

Angelina Jolie, "Girl, Interrupted"

Catherine Keener, "Being John Malkovich"

Samantha Morton, "Sweet and Lowdown"

Chloe Sevigny, "Boys Don’t Cry"

Carly: Angelina Jolie, "Girl, Interrupted." Even though she is one of today's most irritating actresses, she will probably win because her performance in "Girl, Interrupted" was a standout. And being Jon Voight's daughter hasn't hurt her yet.

Matt: Chloe Sevigny, "Boys Don't Cry." This film could have been dominated and overshadowed by Swank's performance, but Sevigny is great in her own write. She puts delicacy and layer into a character who could have been very flat and uninteresting.

Shawn: Catherine Keener, "Being John Malkovich." Also being the best film of the year, "Being John Malkovich" showcases plenty of worthy performances, from John Cusack's sadsack puppeteer to Cameron Diaz's shaggy, transsexual turn. But Keener, playing a dark-haired office bombshell, levels the film's original, dark humor with her own blend of biting satire.

Tom: Catherine Keener, "Being John Malkovich." I realize that most of my picks are probably going to be wrong this year on account of my sick devotion to my favorite underdogs, "Magnolia" and "Being John Malkovich." But it's deserved. Keener and the rest of the "Malkovich" ensemble need to take some gold home on Oscar night, and why not recognize Keener's deliciously manipulative performance?

Will Win: Angelina Jolie. With a Golden Globe already in her possession, picking up her first Oscar shouldn't be too difficult.

Sam Mendes, "American Beauty"

Spike Jonze, "Being John Malkovich"

Lasse Hallstrom, "The Cider House Rules"

Michael Mann, "The Insider"

M. Night Shyamalan, "The Sixth Sense"

Carly: Sam Mendes, "American Beauty." I'm going with a virtual "American Beauty" sweep. The camera angles and the use of visuals, such as the different shots involving red rose petals, added to the film's majesty.

Matt: Sam Mendes, "American Beauty." Mendes pulls amazing performances out of his entire cast. "Beauty" is his first film, and he handled it like a master. The script was great but without the right direction, this incredible movie would have stalled at mediocrity.

Shawn: Spike Jonze, "Being John Malkovich." His craft, originality and heart are in the right place … Malkovich's melon.

Tom: Spike Jonze, "Being John Malkovich." There is no way a movie such as "Being John Malkovich" is going to come out of big-time Hollywood again in the next century or so. Jonze took his music video experience and an oddball script and created surreal art. That's pretty impressive for the new kid on the block.

Will Win: Sam Mendes. "American Beauty" has received nothing but praise all year. The hype and the quality of the film will pay off for Mendes.

"Blame Canada" from "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," Trey Parker and Marc Shaiman

"Music of My Heart," from "Music of the Heart," Dianne Warren

"Save Me" from "Magnolia," Aimee Mann

"When She Loved Me" from "Toy Story 2," Randy Newman

"You'll Be In My Heart," from "Tarzan," Phil Collins

Carly: "When She Loved Me," from "Toy Story 2." This song is fabulously depressing, sad and lonely. Sarah McLachlan's beautiful, haunting voice fills your entire body for hours after the song ends. Although all the songs are terrific choices, nothing can beat the story Newman tells with this song, and the unforgettable vocals of McLachlan add to this wonderful song. It will stay in the pit of your stomach long after the song changes.

Matt: "You'll Be In My Heart," from "Tarzan." I absolutely love this song, and I am not ashamed to admit it. It is purely manipulative schmaltz, but Phil Collins does it better than almost anyone. He captures the romantic spirit of "Tarzan," as well as incorporating a sense of the tropical sound he used in much of the film's score. Count on this one to win; the Oscars love Disney and a song they can sing along to.

Shawn: "Blame Canada" from "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut." The courage, humor and tenacity of Mark Shaiman to take on "Canada" should be rewarded. If this song doesn't win (which I know it won't), I will be blaming academy voters for being utterly devoid of … (well).

Tom: "Save Me" from "Magnolia." The "Magnolia" soundtrack is one of the most well-put-together albums in years and saying that it complements the film is like saying that John Lennon complemented the Beatles. Not only do I adore Aimee Mann's music but also I hope she saves me and the rest of America from another gut-churning Disney ballad.

Will Win: "You'll Be In My Heart," Phil Collins. The Academy can't turn its back on another sappy and tooth-rotting Disney song.

John Irving, "The Cider House Rules"

Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Election"

Frank Darabont, "The Green Mile"

Eric Roth and Michael Mann, "The Insider"

Anthony Minghella, "The Talented Mr. Ripley"

Carly: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Election." When I picked this movie up off the video store shelf, I wasn't expecting it to be one of the wittiest and funniest movies I have seen in a long time. This all goes back to the writing and the screenplay. This movie was a surprise critical success this year; don't be surprised if it takes home this award.

Matt: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Election." This story of a high school election gone horribly awry is wittier than any other film I have seen this year. It provides a great satire, subtle humor and some great one-liners. This was a highly praised movie, so look for it to win the only award it is up for.

Shawn: Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, "Election." "Being John Malkovich" might be the best film of the year, but Payne's hilarious "Election" with terrific performances by Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon, is wonderfully written with a smart, satirical brilliance.

Tom: Frank Darabont, "The Green Mile." I guess this isn't so much what I think should win, more what will. The Academy loves sentimental prison movies and Tom Hanks and because the "The Green Mile" was too far a walk for many of the other statues, the screenplay award should be a nice way of saying, "better luck next time."

Will Win: "Election." One of the most intelligent, witty and hilarious comedies in years.

Alan Ball, "American Beauty"

Charlie Kaufman, "Being John Malkovich"

Paul Thomas Anderson, "Magnolia"

M. Night Shyamalan, "The Sixth Sense"

Mike Leigh, "Topsy-Turvy"

Carly: M. Night Shyamalan, "The Sixth Sense." While I loved "American Beauty," the basic story wasn't really all that original. The twists and surprises were what made the story original. "The Sixth Sense," on the other hand, kept me guessing the entire length of the film. By the end, I was just flat-out disturbed and shocked. Look for M. Night Shyamalan to take this one.

Matt: Alan Ball, "American Beauty." This film features great performances and direction, but it all starts with the screenplay. It is difficult to believe that this is Ball's first script. He embodies his story and characters with layers and intricacies that are rare to find. Look for him to win his first of what will probably be many Oscars.

Shawn: Charlie Kaufman, "Being John Malkovich." The best film of the year is written in a dada style that keeps designing invention after invention. It's an emotional screenplay with a sharp sense of humor. Loved the deliciously hilarious Charlie Sheen cameo.

Tom: Paul Thomas Anderson, "Magnolia." I'm torn up inside because I want both P.T. Anderson and Charlie Kaufman to win this award. Both scripts succeeded in moving and surprising me but, unfortunately, succeeded in moving a lot of other moviegoers out of the theater. "Magnolia" gets my top vote, though, because of the depth of imagery, recurring themes and strong handling of well-written characters.

Will Win: "The Sixth Sense." Original, compelling, fantastic and a moviegoer favorite: enough reasons.