So it’s almost about that time when co-workers gather around the water cooler to brag about how many nominated movies they’ve seen and most importantly…pool in loonies and twonies for winning. Yes, Oscars are soon approaching and unless you want to look like a pop culture loser…you’d better listen up! Personally, I’ve never wagered on the Oscars, this will be my first time. So I did what most smart people do when they are unsure or seeking guidance, I googled it.

1 – Ask a really really Smart Person -like Iain Pardoe
My first recommendation would be to ask Professor Iain Pardoe what his picks are. Iain developed a famous mathematical algorithm to calculate the Oscar winners. Unfortunately, for me I’m not very good at math but listed below are the key factors that Iain considers when formulating his predictions.
Iain Pardoe Cheat Sheet/Factors to consider:
- Total nominations a particular movie receives
- The results of other award shows and ceremonies (like the Golden Globes)
- Previous Oscars won by directors or actors

2 – Don’t vote for your actual favourites
The chances that your favs align with the those of the academy are pretty slim. Google around and see what the ‘snotty’ film critiques are saying and go with that.

3 – Consider these Random Thoughts:
Did this movie cost a lot of money to make or evolve the film medium? (a.k.a. Avatar) If so, I’d say there is a pretty great chance for success even if the plot was, ahem, mediocre.

Veterans win – sometimes they are being rewarded not for the film they were actually nominated for but for previous years work when they didn’t win but maybe should of won? (e.g. was The Departed really that good?)

Judges go for characters with good accents and characters based on real life heroes – à la Sandra Bullock in Blind Side (accent and based on a real person(bonus points)) and Morgan Freeman in Invictus (based on Nelson Mandela).

Did someone sing? It worked for Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line. This potentially could be a winning formula for Jeff Bridges and Crazy Heart.

Lastly, if all else fails. Just copy off the dude in the cubicle next to you.

Best of Luck in your Office Oscar Pool Everyone!