To prepare for Sunday’s Academy Awards broadcast, here’s the Carpetbagger’s inside look at the front-runners and back stories.

Best Picture: “Argo”

Best Director: Ang Lee, “Life of Pi”

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, “Lincoln”

Best Actress: Jennifer Lawrence, “Silver Linings Playbook”

Read more 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/22/movies/awardsseason/the-carpetbaggers-2013-oscar-predictions.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&

IndieWire

2013 Oscar Predictions

Best Picture: : "Argo"

Best Director: Steven Spielberg

Best Actor:  Daniel Day-Lewis

Best Actress: Emmanuelle Riva

Read more http://www.indiewire.com/article/2013-oscarpredictions

New York Daily News

KEITH BERNSTEIN/©WARNER BROS/COURTESY EVERETT C

Ben Affleck in 'Argo.' Though he was not nominated for Best Director, both Joe Neumaier and Elizabeth Weitzman think his movie will and should win for Best Picture.