Yes, we know the Oscars just broadcast a little over a month ago, but we’re always thinking ahead to the next year, so today we’re posting our first in a monthly series of predictions for the 83rd Academy Awards.

Things will undoubtedly change between now and January 2011, but sometimes it’s fun just to see how much will change in the interim. Even in October our glimpses of the race may seem certain, but then the Critics prizes and the guild awards throw our conventional wisdom aside for new ventures. Thus, it is even more interesting to see what we would expect now and what we’ll expect then.

We’ll only be covering the Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress races, but I will continue my annual Oscar Hopefuls page which should post sometime this week or next once I’ve finalized my own predictions. Below are all four contributors and their picks. Note that the ones that are common on multiple lists are highlighted in different colors.

KEY:
Appears on Four Lists
Appears on Three Lists
Appears on Two Lists
Split Lead/Supporting Placement

BEST PICTURE
Fair Game The Ghost Writer Hereafter How Do You Know? Inception Love and Other Drugs Robin Hood Secretariat The Tree of Life True Grit	Black Swan The Fighter Hereafter Inception The King’s Speech London Boulevard Love and Other Drugs Somewhere The Tree of Life The Way Back	The American Fair Game Hereafter The King’s Speech Miral The Social Network The Town The Tree of Life Toy Story 3 The Way Back	The Company Men The Fighter Howl Inception Kick-Ass London Boulevard Ondine The Social Network The Tree of Life Toy Story 3

BEST DIRECTOR
James L. Brooks – How Do You Know? Joel Coen, Ethan Coen – True Grit Clint Eastwood – Hereafter Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life Roman Polanski – The Ghost Writer	Clint Eastwood – Hereafter Tom Hooper – The King’s Speech Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life Christopher Nolan – Inception Peter Weir – The Way Back	Ben Affleck – The Town Anton Corbijn – The American Clint Eastwood – Hereafter Doug Liman – Fair Game Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life	Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman – Howl David Fincher – The Social Network Christopher Nolan – Inception Terrence Malick – The Tree of Life David O. Russell – The Fighter

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges – True Grit Matt Damon – Hereafter Joseph Gordon-Levitt – I’m with Cancer Jake Gyllenhaal – Love and Other Drugs Jack Nicholson – How Do You Know?	Colin Farrell – London Boulevard Colin Firth – The King’s Speech James Franco – 127 Hours Jake Gyllenhaal – Love and Other Drugs Mark Wahlberg – The Fighter	George Clooney – The American Matt Damon – Hereafter Colin Firth – The King’s Speech James Franco – Howl Sean Penn – Fair Game	Ben Affleck – The Company Men Johnny Depp – The Rum Diary James Franco – Howl Brad Pitt – The Tree of Life Mark Wahlberg – The Fighter

BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right Anne Hathaway – Love and Other Drugs Naomi Watts – Fair Game Reese Witherspoon – How Do You Know? Robin Wright Penn – The Conspirator	Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right Anne Hathaway – Love and Other Drugs Keira Knightley – London Boulevard Natalie Portman – Black Swan Naomi Watts – Fair Game	Annette Bening – The Kids Are All Right Nicole Kidman – Rabbit Hole Jennifer Lawrence – Winter’s Bone Julia Roberts – Eat, Pray, Love Naomi Watts – Fair Game	Angelina Jolie – Salt Keira Knightley – London Boulevard Rachel McAdams – Morning Glory Helen Mirren – Brighten Rock Mia Wasikowska – The Kids Are All Right

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Christian Bale – The Fighter Josh Brolin – True Grit Ed Harris – The Way Back Paul Rudd – How Do You Know? Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right	Christian Bale – The Fighter Derek Jacobi – The King’s Speech Mark Ruffalo – The Kids Are All Right Brad Pitt – The Tree of Life David Thewlis – London Boulevard	Christian Bale – The Fighter Josh Brolin – True Grit Ed Harris – The Way Back Miles Teller – Rabbit Hole Tom Wilkinson – The Debt	Christian Bale – The Fighter Aaron Eckhart – The Rum Diary Ed Harris – The Way Back Sean Penn – The Tree of Life Patrick Wilson – Morning Glory

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams – The Fighter Marion Cotillard – Inception Elle Fanning – Somewhere Julianne Moore – The Kids Are All Right Evan Rachel Wood – The Conspirator	Amy Adams – The Fighter Helena Bonham Carter – The King’s Speech Rosemarie DeWitt – The Company Men Elle Fanning – Somewhere Julianne Moore – The Kids Are All Right	Hope Davis – The Special Relationship Elle Fanning – Somewhere Rebecca Hall – The Town Bryce Dallas Howard – Hereafter Amy Ryan – Jack Goes Boating	Amy Adams – The Fighter Marion Cotillard – Inception Anne Hathaway – Love and Other Drugs Chloe Moretz – Kick-Ass Evan Rachel Wood – The Conspirator

Wes also wanted to submit predictions in a couple of other categories. Here they are:

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

• The Company Men
• The Fighter
• Inception
• Ondine
• The Tree of Life

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

• The Ghost Writer
• Kick-Ass
• London Boulevard
• The Social Network
• Toy Story 3