Best Actors & Actress (84th Oscar)

George Clooney is returning to Toronto this year with two films, 'The Ides of March' (which he's also directing) and 'The Descendants,' so we'd say he has double the chance of winning the Oscar this year. We're not so brazen to predict he'll take the Best Director crown, but we think his turn as a man dealing with his wife's infidelity in 'The Descendants' might just tug the heartstrings to victory.

Brad Pitt (another TIFF darling) is appearing in the much-anticipated 'Moneyball,' where he stars as Billy Beane, the general manager of the Oakland As, who has an epiphany about baseball's conventional wisdom and overhauls the entire team. Points for being an underdog, points for being a feel-good movie, but points against because it's about baseball, and you know how people like to rag on baseball for being boring. Still, once upon a time there was 'Field of Dreams.'

Viggo Mortensen is taking on the role of his life as famous Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud in David Cronenberg's 'A Dangerous Method.' Judging by early trailers and some movie stills, he not only looks the part, but he's frighteningly convincing as the sexuality-obsessed doctor. Potential Oscar nods also loom for his co-star Michael Fassbender, who plays fledgling psychiatrist Carl Jung. "Real-life" roles are Academy catnip.

Ryan Gosling playing a troubled stunt driver in 'Drive'? Sounds like something the Academy might like. When Gosling played the drug-addicted teacher in 'Half Nelson,' he received accolades across the board and was nominated for the Oscar. This film has the same breadth and reach, plus Carey Mulligan as his co-star.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays a man in his late 20s diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the acclaimed '50/50,' which simultaneously makes light of the topic while taking a raw, insider look at coping with the disease. Gordon-Levitt delivers a masterful performance without succumbing to the traditional 'person with cancer' depiction. Expect to see this fellow's name under the Best Actor nominees this year.

for J. Edgar !

Keira Knightley plays the disturbed and beautiful Sabina Spielrein in 'A Dangerous Method.' She is the catalyst for drama and sexual temptation, and comes between Fassbender and Mortensen's characters. It's nice to see Knightley out of period dress and using those acting chops, which were overlooked in last year's 'Never Let Me Go.' 'A Dangerous Method' looks like it might be an Oscar sandwich.

Glenn Close, who's been dominating the small screen in 'Damages' for four seasons now, leads the Irish-set period drama 'Albert Nobbs.' She plays titular character Albert, a woman who pretends to be a man in order to survive. Beset with casting, scheduling and budget problems, 'Albert Nobbs' has been in the works for a while, and Close co-wrote the screenplay. She is the absolute crux of the film, and everything will revolve around her -- so expect a little nomination for a gold statue once Oscar season rolls around.

Jennifer Garner for an Oscar? The chance is there with 'Butter,' a movie about -- bear with us here -- the highly competitive world of butter carving. Garner plays Laura Pickler, the self-anointed First Lady of Butter Carving. This could go either way: her depiction could be interpreted as campy, light and fun, or she could come across as very vested and immersed in the role, leading to Oscar glory. It remains to be seen.

We know Meryl Streep has this wrapped up for 'The Iron Lady

for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

for The Artist

for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

for The Help