Thursday, January 16, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announces this year’s Oscar nominations, and Buffer writers Amy Solomon and Zach Saldacher are as excited as can be. They were thrilled to prioritize Oscar betting above homework, so they have spent their valuable time compiling their nominee predictions. See their lists and reactions to each other’s predictions below.

Best Picture – Up to ten movies can be nominated

Amy’s Picks:
12 Years a Slave
American Hustle
Captain Philips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
The Wolf of Wall Street

Zach’s Picks:
12 Years A Slave
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Inside Llewyn Davis
Lee Daniels’ The Butler
Nebraska
The Wolf of Wall Street

Amy: I mostly agree with Zach, except that I don’t think a full ten will get nominated, so I left off Lee Daniels’ The Butler (to be fair, I didn’t see it, but anyone who puts his own name in the title like that loses some points in my book). My big runner-up is Saving Mr. Banks – which I loved and would put near the top of my personal nominations – but sadly I don’t think it has enough buzz. I also wish that Blue is the Warmest Color could make this list, but it is sadly too indie to snag a nomination.

Zach: With such a phenomenal field this year, narrowing this Best Picture list down to ten was actually pretty difficult. I think the Academy will feel the same way, which is why I predict they use the full ten-film limit. Like Amy I also loved Saving Mr. Banks and could easily see that getting a nomination instead of, say, Lee Daniels’ The Butler (which I think is the weakest film of the group). Philomena too is superb, but I think it will get recognition in the acting and writing categories and miss out on the Best Picture nom.

Best Director – Five nominees

 Amy’s Picks:
Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity
Paul Greengrass – Captain Phillips
Spike Jonze – Her
Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
David O. Russell – American Hustle

Zach’s Picks
Alfonso Cuarón – Gravity
Steve McQueen – 12 Years a Slave
Alexander Payne – Nebraska
David O. Russell – American Hustle
Martin Scorsese – The Wolf of Wall Street

Zach: It’s super difficult to pick just five directors (and I must confess I have yet to see Her – shameful, I know), but I don’t see how the Academy can ignore Alexander Payne’s work on Nebraska. And Spike Jonze is to Amy what Martin Scorsese is to me. Everything he does is absolutely brilliant, and I know the Academy kind of hates him, but I really hope he gets the nod for Wolf of Wall Street.

Amy: I may be putting Jonze on my predictions list more because I want him to be nominated than he is likely to be, but I’m okay with that. Do you hear me Spike Jonze? I love you so much. Please contact me. The long-shots that would never make the cut but that deserve to be on this list are Sarah Polley for her documentary Stories We Tell, and Joss Whedon for the stupidly underrated Much Ado About Nothing.

Best Actor – Five nominees

 Amy’s Picks
Leonardo DiCaprio – Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor – 12 Years a Slave
Tom Hanks – Captain Phillips
Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford – All Is Lost

Zach’s Picks
Christian Bale – American Hustle
Bruce Dern – Nebraska
Tom Hanks – Captain Philips
Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buyers Club
Robert Redford – All is Lost

Amy: I’m mad at Zach for leaving Leo off. I’ve never even had a crush on Leo (which is blasphemy to most women) but loved his performance in Wolf of Wall Street. Another guy I’d love to see on this list is Joaquin Phoenix for Her, but I can’t imagine that happening (I was also upset that he didn’t win the award for The Master last year).

Zach: Amy’s mad at me for leaving Leo off, but I’m mad at the Academy. Where’s the love for Mr. DiCaprio?! Only three nominations (one in 1994) and no wins!!! Maybe his Golden Globe victory will help his chances because I would love nothing more than to see him in this race. Amy may never have had a crush on him, but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a small man-crush there. DiCaprio rant aside, they do love Christian Bale (how can you not?) and I think he beats out Chiwetel Ejiofor who was good but not great. We both agree on Joaquin Phoenix. Still bitter about The Master.

Best Actress – Five nominees

Amy’s Picks
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock – Gravity
Judi Dench – Philomena
Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue is the Warmest Color
Emma Thompson – Saving Mr. Banks

Zach’s Picks
Amy Adams – American Hustle
Cate Blanchett – Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock – Gravity
Judi Dench – Philomena
Meryl Streep – August: Osage County

Zach: I don’t see how you can ignore Amy Adams, Amy. And I’d also love to see Emma Thompson, but unfortunately Meryl Streep is Meryl Streep.

Amy: Adele Exarchopoulos is a total long shot, but I thought about her performance every day for weeks after seeing Blue is the Warmest Color, so at the very least she deserves my prediction.

Best Supporting Actor – Five nominees

Amy’s Picks
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
George Clooney – Gravity
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
James Gandolfini – Enough Said
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Zach’s Picks
Barkhad Abdi – Captain Phillips
Daniel Brühl – Rush
Bradley Cooper – American Hustle
Michael Fassbender – 12 Years a Slave
Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

Zach: Not much to say about the Supporting Actor race. Haven’t seen Rush but people seem to really like Daniel Brühl in that, so I’ll pick him over Clooney. Also thought Bradley Cooper was fantastic.

Best Supporting Actress – Five nominees

Amy’s Picks
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts – August: Osage County
June Squibb – Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Zach’s Picks
Jennifer Lawrence – American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts – August: Osage County
June Squibb – Nebraska
Oprah Winfrey – Lee Daniels’ The Butler