What my dream Oscars would look like...

We all do it: Compile a list -- in our minds or on paper -- of our favourite films of the year and decide which movies and performances we'd like to see nominated at the Academy Awards.

Overall, 2012 wasn't my favourite year for film (Will any of the 2000's ever be as good as 2007?). However, there were some notable films and beautiful performances -- many of them recognized by the Academy, others sadly overlooked.

Here's how my Oscars would have played out (based on what I've seen)...

Best Picture
Amour
A Royal Affair
Beasts of the Southern Wild
Django Unchained
Life of Pi
The Master
Moonrise Kingdom
Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director
Paul Thomas Anderson for The Master
Kathryn Bigelow for Zero Dark Thirty
Michael Haneke for Amour
Ang Lee for Life of Pi
Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained
Who I'd choose: Ang Lee

Best Actor
Daniel Day-Lewis for Lincoln
John Hawkes for The Sessions
Dwight Henry for Beasts of the Southern Wild
Joaquin Phoenix for The Master
Jean-Louis Trintignant for Amour
Who I'd choose: Joaquin Phoenix

Best Actress
Jessica Chastain for Zero Dark Thirty
Jennifer Lawrence for Silver Linings Playbook
Emmanuelle Riva for Amour
Quvenzhane Wallis for Beasts of the Southern Wild 
Rachel Weisz for The Deep Blue Sea
Who I'd choose: Emmanuelle Riva

Best Supporting Actor
Mikkel Boe Folsgaard for A Royal Affair 
Samuel L. Jackson for Django Unchained
Tommy Lee Jones for Lincoln
Philip Seymour Hoffman for The Master
Christoph Waltz for Django Unchained
Who I'd choose: Mikkel Boe Folsgaard

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams for The Master
Sally Field for Lincoln
Kara Hayward for Moonrise Kingdom
Helen Hunt for The Sessions
Isabelle Huppert for Amour
Who I'd choose: Helen Hunt