Awards Season kicks up a gear this Thursday with the announcement of the Oscar nominees.

We'll be all over the noms as they happen (find us on Twitter to join in), but for now, here's totalfilm.com's predictions on exactly what we'll be blabbing - and Tweeting - about on January 22, 5pm Pacific Time.

Best Picture

Slumdog Millionaire - Gathering pace after a sweep at the Golden Globes. A feelgood movie in feel-bad times.

The Wrestler - While it might have more of a chance in the Best Actor Category, we reckon the Academy will at least give it a nod here.

The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - The effects are getting most of the buzz, but the American critics think it's a masterpiece (we don't).

The Dark Knight - Will the Academy’s legendary bias against fantasy and comic book pics hamper it? Sadly, the death of Heath Ledger might have given it the gravitas to transcend the snobbery.

Milk - Another one more likely to pick up individual acting awards, but Gus Van Sant’s biopic could be the dark horse.