Cast your Oscar votes here

Lights . . . camera . . . action . . . the biggest date in Hollywood awards season is just around the corner. Who do you think should walk away with the Oscars this year?

Shropshire Star film critic Carl Jones has his own opinions - but do you agree?

Will Kate Winslet finally end her long wait for an Academy Award?

Does comeback kid Mickey Rourke deserve to scoop the top male acting prize?

And will Slumdog Millionaire, described by Carl as probably the best film he's seen in a decade, fly the flag for Britain by bringing home a host of Oscars?

Read Carl's verdict on each category - and then cast your own vote.

• Feel free to explain your choices in our comments section. If you name the right winner in all the categories, we'll even throw in some top film prizes.

Best Actress Best actress nominees: Anne Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Melissa Leo, Meryl Streep and Kate Winslet

Could it finally be the year for Kate Winslet to strike gold at the Oscars?

It's not been for the want of trying - she's been nominated five times since first appearing on the shortlist in 1996, but has yet to hit the jackpot.

I reckon 2009's going to be her year. Having already scooped two Golden Globes, she's the bookies' favourite for the Best Actress prize at the Academy Awards on February 22 for her heart-rending performance in The Reader, and I'm not going to disagree.

Not that Shropshire film fans can comment on this, of course, since the movie has yet to make it to any of our cinemas, despite being released in the UK nearly a month ago. A scandal...

Her leading rivals for the best actress prize include Angelina Jolie, who was superb in true-life story Changeling, and Meryl Streep who gets her 15th nomination for Doubt, but my money's on the 33-year-old Brit – if only to see what kind of acceptance speech she comes up with, after her teary shambles at the Globes.

Carl's prediction: Kate Winslet

Next: Best Actor

Best Actor Best actor hopefuls: Richard Jenkins, Frank Langella, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Mickey Rourke

In the best actor category, it's anyone's guess. Frank Langella would be a worthy winner for his portrayal of former president Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, but so would Mickey Rourke whose touching portrayal of a fading sports star made The Wrestler such a compelling watch.

Then there's Sean Penn, possibly the finest actor of his generation, who is again magnificent in political drama Milk.

Will the Academy go for one of its firm favourites, or reward Rourke for what is likely to be his one and only chance of Oscars glory? I'm plumping for Rourke - by a gnat's whisker.

Carl's prediction: Mickey Rourke

Next: Best Supporting Actor/Actress

Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actor hopefuls: Josh Brolin, Robert Downey Jr, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Heath Ledger, and Michael Shannon

I'd love to see resurgent Robert Downey Jnr land best supporting actor for his irreverent and tongue-in-cheek performance in war comedy Tropic Thunder - rarely has an actor stolen scenes in such style when competing with such a stellar cast.

But it would take a brave Academy voter not to tick the box marked "the late Heath Ledger" for his chilling and poignant performance as The Joker in The Dark Knight. Ledger must be odds-on to win.

Carl's Prediction: Heath Ledger

Best Supporting Actress Best Supporting Actress hopefuls: Amy Adams, Penelope Cruz, Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, and Marisa Tomei

As for best supporting actress, well that's a toughie, since not many of the films have reached us so far. Marisa Tomei's revealing role in The Wrestler is good - but Oscar-worthy? I'm not so sure.

Penelope Cruz is apparently pretty darned good in Vicky Cristina Barcelona, where she plays a divorced woman locked in a complex relationship with her ex, so that's where my early money is placed.

Carl's prediction: Penelope Cruz

Which will be the Best Film? Which will be best film: Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Brad Pitt's unusual latest offering, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, leads the way this year with 13 Oscar nominations, so must be in the box-seat for the Best Picture prize. But I believe the accolade deserves to go to Danny Boyle's rollercoaster drama Slumdog Millionaire.

Movies usually fall into two distinct categories - those which appeal to the mass market only to be slated by the critics, and those which the experts fall in love with, but which fail to do the business at the box office.

Slumdog transcends these boundaries and for my money is one of the best flicks I've seen in a decade.

If there's any justice, it should certainly win best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, cinematography, and music score.

But since when was life fair?

Carl's prediction: Slumdog Millionaire