Another year at the cineplex has passed. Box office figures might be down, but the quality of cinema we've seen this past year is anything but mediocre. While all the critic circles have handed out their awards and the Golden Globes did the same a month ago, now it all boils down to the 78th Academy Awards.\nWill "Brokeback Mountain" continue to steamroll over the competition? What if "Crash" overcomes all contenders -- especially after receiving top honors from Screen Actor's Guild? Or maybe "Munich," the latest from Hollywood legend Steven Spielberg, will capture the gold.\nFive Weekend critics have seen the films and thought about all the outcomes. We're here to tell you which films will take home the Oscar, but also to let you know who we really think deserves one. So read on, tune in on Sunday at 8 p.m. to the ABC network and see who comes out on top. \n
John Barnett
Best Director\nAng Lee's achievement on "Brokeback Mountain" can't be lauded enough, yet it somehow falls inches shy of Spielberg's self-renewal with "Munich." It's Spielberg's best work since "Saving Private Ryan" in 1998, and that's no faint praise.\nWILL win: Ang Lee\nSHOULD win: Steven Spielberg
Best Actor\nHoffman is untouchable in this category. After a 15-year career packed with stunning performances, Hoffman will finally grasp a golden statuette for his detailed study on the enigmatic Truman Capote.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress\nPerhaps it's because I can't stand the thought of the star of "Legally Blonde" and "Sweet Home Alabama" winning an Oscar. Regardless, it would be nice to see Huffman take this prize for her brave performance as a pre-op transsexual among the thinnest and most mundane Best Actress field in years.\nWILL win: Reese Witherspoon\nSHOULD win: Felicity Huffman
Best Supporting Actor\nThis is perhaps the most competitive of all this year's major categories, with the under appreciated and under-awarded Giamatti narrowly edging out the others odds wise. That being said, Gyllenhaal's career-best performance as Jack Twist, the fiery heart of "Brokeback Mountain," stands shoulders above the rest.\nWILL win: Paul Giamatti\nSHOULD win: Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actress\nWeisz took most other major awards in this category, making her the obvious favorite. That's surprising, though, when former "Dawson's Creek" resident Williams' gut-twisting take on a wife scorned by a lifestyle she can't comprehend rings so much truer.\nWILL win: Rachel Weisz\nSHOULD win: Michelle Williams
Olivia Morales
Best PictureBest Director\nAng Lee was nominated some years back for his seminal Chinese epic "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." But he failed to take home the statue. With "Brokeback" he directed with the same painstaking attention to detail; its dramatic core is beautifully complemented with Lee's shooting style and imagery, making him the year's best director. \nWILL and SHOULD win: Ang Lee
Best Actor\nIt is a two-man race in this category this year -- both Hoffman and Ledger are responsible for astonishing performances in "Capote" and "Brokeback Mountain." Hoffman did a superb job as the legendary writer and will be rewarded. It is Ledger, however, who deserves the honor for his stunning performance.\nWILL win: Philip Seymour Hoffman\nSHOULD win: Heath Ledger
Best Actress\nBy far the weakest category this year, the leading ladies of the past year's films haven't turned in nearly as many brilliant performances as the men. Witherspoon and Huffman appear to be the forerunners, both having turned in the only performances worth nominations.\nWILL win: Reese Witherspoon\nSHOULD win: Felicity Huffman
Best Supporting Actor\nThe hardest category to call, I'm fairly certain that Clooney's performance in the political thriller "Syriana" will win. His star-power momentum and Hollywood "Golden Boy" status, place the odds squarely in his favor. \nWILL win: George Clooney\nSHOULD win: Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actress\nRachel Weisz has been sweeping this category. Her moving performance as a political activist will win her the award. Michelle William's heartbreaking performance as a shunned wife is the only real competition, but probably not enough to take the statue away from the critically favored Weisz.\nWILL win: Rachel Weisz\nSHOULD win: Michelle Williams
Tony Sams
Best PictureBest Director\nTypically the Academy honors the Best Picture's director, but even if "Brokeback Mountain" doesn't win, Ang Lee should. Even when the film stumbled, he created a powerful and visually breathtaking atmosphere out of Hollywood's most traditional genre, the love story.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Ang Lee
Best Actor\nPhilip Seymour Hoffman's turn as Truman Capote is perhaps the most talked about and most honored performance of the year -- as it should be.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Philip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress\nAs the lovely June Carter, Reese Witherspoon pulled out a performance I never would have foreseen based on "Legally Blonde" alone. Her only competition might be Felicity Huffman, but Witherspoon actually sang Carter's songs well. That'll tip it.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor\nBesides the fact that the Academy will honor triple-nominee George Clooney here instead of as Best Director or Best Screenwriter, there are no other stellar performances in this category.\nWILL and SHOULD win: George Clooney
Best Supporting Actress\nJudging on the Screen Actor's Guild Awards, Rachel Weisz will win, but Catherine Keener deserves it more. Perpetually underrated, Keener appeared in four films last year. "Capote" was the most serious film she appeared in, which is why that's the film for which she is nominated, but she was even better in "The 40 Year Old Virgin."\nWILL win: Rachel Weisz\nSHOULD win: Catherine Keener
C. Warner Sills
Best PictureBest Director\nLee seems to be the shoe-in with his fascinating love story set in the American West, however, let's not forget Spielberg's return to the personal projects that made him an American auteur. \nWILL win: Ang Lee\nSHOULD win: Steven Spielberg
Best Actor\nIn a time where bio-pics are a dime a dozen, Strathairn and Hoffman both gave exceptionally faithful portrayals that embodied their subjects down to the finest details. Both were equally brilliant, however, only one gets the gold.\nWILL win: Philip Seymour Hoffman\nSHOULD win: Very hesitantly- David Strathairn
Best Actress\nTheron was good, but not great. Dame Dench has her share of nominations and wins tucked away nicely. Knightley and Huffman both have promising careers ahead of them, which leaves Witherspoon, who gave one hell of a riveting performance. To top it off, she can sing too.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Reese Witherspoon
Best Supporting Actor\nWhile the true knockout-supporting role this year was by Clifton Collins Jr. as Perry Lee in "Capote," it is Dillon's stunning portrayal of a bigoted, yet compassionate L.A. cop that was truly the best performance in his long standing career. \nWILL and SHOULD win: Matt Dillon
Best Supporting Actress\nAmy Adam's show stealing performance was the real filet of the year. For a fairly overlooked actress, in a fairly overlooked film, Adams managed to devour her small but meaty role, ensuring a promising future.\nWILL and SHOULD win: Amy Adams
Chris Wisner
Best PictureBest Director\nAng Lee will take home the statue, but Spielberg really deserves the gold once again. "Munich" is proof Spielberg can completely reinvent himself and still remain versatile.\nWILL win: Ang Lee\nSHOULD win: Steven Spielberg
Best Actor\nAll five gentlemen deserve the gold since they did an amazing job and turned in career-bests. Hoffman has turned in top notch performances his entire career -- something the other four have not. \nWILL and SHOULD win: Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Best Actress\nWitherspoon pretty much has this one locked but as long as the Dame doesn't win, I'll be happy. Dench's tough demeanor never impresses me.\nWILL win: Reese Witherspoon\nSHOULD win: Anyone but Judi Dench
Best Supporting Actor\nThis year the statue could go to anyone. I'd love to see Giamatti take home the gold, but I have a feeling Hollywood favorite Clooney has to claim one statue from all his nominations.\nWILL win: George Clooney\nSHOULD win: Paul Giamatti
Best Supporting Actress\nWilliams deserves the Oscar for her poignant performance, but considering how many awards Weisz has already picked up this year, she'll be overlooked.\nWILL win: Rachel Weisz\nSHOULD win: Michelle Williams
