Okay film buffs out there… we want your opinion.

We’ve been watching the films throughout 2011 and now it’s time to make some wagers…

We’re going to put our (metaphorical) money down on the potential Oscar winners and we want you to join in with your picks. We will end up on Oscar night with an online score card for you to fill out. Let’s see who comes out on top… you or us!

Today we are going start our evaluation of the film categories with the nominees for screenplays.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)

• The Descendants Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
• Hugo Screenplay by John Logan
• The Ides of March Screenplay by George Clooney & Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon
• Moneyball Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin  Story by Stan Chervin
• Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Screenplay by Bridget O’Connor & Peter Straughan

No real surprises here. Still, other serious contenders, Steve Zaillian for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and Tate Taylor for The Help, didn’t make the cut. Our bet is on The Descendants who seem to have the strongest chance with its endearing and smart screenplay. Plus, it would be pretty cool for Jim Rash (the Dean from Community) to get an Oscar.

Writing (Original Screenplay)

• The Artist Written by Michel Hazanavicius
• Bridesmaids Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
• Margin Call Written by J.C. Chandor
• Midnight in Paris Written by Woody Allen
• A Separation Written by Asghar Farhadi

This category certainly has some shocking choices. Bridesmaids was definitely was expected to make the final list but it’s still pretty surprising that the Academy would nominate the R-rated comedy whatever its merits.

While Margin Call was well-received it also flew under the radar for the most part. We liked that it is J.C Chandor’s first feature film, which he also directed.

A Separation, which is nominated for Best Foreign Film, was an unexpected finalist. Foreign films rarely get noticed in other categories but this film was highly praised.

Will Reiser’s semi-autobiographical 50/50 was surprisingly snubbed. We would have enjoyed seeing Diablo Cody’s wicked dramedy Young Adult in the list of finalists.

We predict that Woody Allen will take home his third Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Midnight in Paris which was both a critical darling and a box office success. We think he deserves it for capturing that key word in the category title: original. His concept was unique and, after winning the Golden Globe, it seems to be the favorite.

Okay… now it’s your turn. Which screenplays are in your top 5 list? Or did you fav’s get shafted?

Stay tuned for more of our nominated breakdown leading up to the Oscars on February 26.

Obama's split lip just shows how tough he is, politically.

Four more years! Apparently Obama is lookin’ good as far as the 2012 election goes.

Could charges be brought upon the WikiLeaks dude? Answer: yes, maybe. We’ll see.

Hide your Representatives, hide your Senators: Mother Jones gives a brief visual history of Congressional violence!

Are James Franco and Anne Hathaway weird hosts for the Oscars next year? Could be… But check out these weirder hosting jobs!

Two funny men + the world’s worst movies + politics + intrigue + a room full of egotistical prima donnas = well, you may say it’s one of our annual staff meetings… but in reality it’s the OSCARS!!

These two may have had a tad too much before the show. What jokes could theses two legendary comedians be cracking? Or are they just cracking up?

Click on the photo and put words in their mouths!!

Okay… the Academy of Arts and Sciences in Hollywood has voted… but a lot of folks weren’t too happy with the results. Particularly on the big daddy of all awards – Best Picture. The Hurt Locker? Avatar? Precious?

Cast your vote for your choice for best Picture. Let’s see if those Hollywood types really know what makes a great movie.

Check out the Poll below to see what the real people think…

Our first clip is of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck winning the Oscar for Good Will Hunting. The pair are adorable, with Matt yelling out names while Ben is speaking.

Oscar speeches are more than just funny though. Sometimes, they’re used to make a political point.

But of course, it’s the host that makes the show.

And just in case you didn’t know, The Oscars happen every year.

Break out your evening gowns… It’s time for the First Annual USDemocrazy Oscar Nomination Run-Down!

Hey… You! Stop yawning! The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has changed a time-honored tradition just to please us, the common folk. That is, they’ve expanded the “Best Picture” category from five to TEN!!!!

NPR’s Linda Holmes points out that the Academy has added five extra nominees to the field in order to make some room for more commercial films… Remember last year when the most successful picture at the box office was looked over at the Oscars? A little film called “The Dark Knight” saw its fans cry foul when the Academy snubbed it.

Holmes makes an example out of “The Blind Side” (trailer above) — a movie she believes is “utterly conventional,” and very popular with the public.

She doesn’t believe that movie will win the field, especially up against big contenders such as “Avatar” and “Up in the Air,” but is glad that more popularly accepted movies made it into Hollywood’s biggest competition.

Lest we forget, the Academy hasn’t always ignored the popular opinion. This gem, after all, was nominated for the 1996 awards:

So the producers of “The Blind Side” must be ecstatic that their family football film got a nod, right? Well, they’re realistic at least.

We don’t believe we have any chance of winning,” said Broderick Johnson, co-chief executive of Alcon Entertainment, which produced and marketed “The Blind Side.”

Oh, right. But there’s this:

Mr. Johnson also acknowledged the effect his film’s selection could have on the Oscars telecast. “It brings in a broader range of pictures that are critically acclaimed and fan favorites,” he said.

The Wall Street Journal reported, in addition to Mr. Johnson’s qu0tes, that this year’s field of nominees grossed an average of $151 million, versus the $71 million average for last year’s nominees.

If you’re intrigued to see what and who else was nominated, check the official Oscar nominee list. Spoiler alert: Meryl Streep is on there. Also, take a peek back in time at USDemocrazy’s 2009 movie round-up to see what was said about many of these movies before they were Nominees. (With the capital “N” and everything.)

Will widening the field to include more Best Picture contenders get YOU to watch the Oscars? Let us know what you think. You have until March 7th to decide (when the ceremony airs on ABC)!