With every December comes the preparation for the Oscars in February. Also with each cycle of preparation comes a film critic trying his best to “predict the enigma” that is Oscar nominations and winners. Here are my projected nominations and winners for four of the most notable awards. But don’t come screaming bloody murder to me if the Academy chooses completely differently than I do. I’m trying here.

Best Picture: “Inception” – “The Social Network” – “The Kids Are All Right” – “127 Hours” – “Black Swan” – “The King’s Speech” – “Toy Story 3” – “Another Year” – “The Town” – “How Do You Know”

Call ‘em crazy, but the Academy may not go with a big-budget flick again this year with their Best Picture winner. Don’t be surprised if you see “The Kids Are All Right” bring home the night’s top prize. The millions of “Inception” hearts may be broken, but each year, the Academy has become more accepting of the “popular indie” genre.

Best Actor: Jesse Eisenberg (“The Social Network”) – James Franco (“127 Hours”) – Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) – Jeff Bridges (“True Grit”) – Michael Douglas (“Solitary Man”)

Colin Firth fell just short of the gold during last year’s Oscars for his performance in the film “A Single Man.” Without a definite front-runner this year, the Academy should look to recognize Firth and give him his first victory. Firth has already received praise for his work in this film, so don’t expect his presence to dissipate in this area any time soon.

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence (“Winter’s Bone”) – Natalie Portman (“Black Swan”) – Annette Bening (“The Kids Are All Right”) – Julianne Moore (“The Kids Are All Right”) – Nicole Kidman (“Rabbit Hole”)

Sometimes, the Academy just loves people. Annette Bening is one of them. Also, there is a long history of Oscars being given to mothers. These two components should give Bening the win for her role as Nic, a mother who desperately wants her family to be happy. Keep an eye out for Lawrence, however, as she has received endless praise for her breakout role in “Winter’s Bone,” a film that almost no one saw.

Best Director: David Fincher (“The Social Network”) – Christopher Nolan (“Inception”) – Danny Boyle (“127 Hours”) – Joel and Ethan Coen (“True Grit”) – Lisa Cholodenko (“The Kids Are All Right”)

Director is always a tough one to predict, but it would be unjust if the Academy didn’t let Nolan go home with the gold for this category. Not only was “Inception” beautiful, but it was also one of the most difficult to shoot films of all time. Nolan had the biggest directorial presence in any film this year, and the Academy should recognize it.