If you haven't seen any of the movies, the documentary and foreign languages categories at the Oscars can be animated short-level boring. But when you've got a dog in the fight-- even if you've just seen one film in one category-- it can be exhilarating. Plus, as we've all learned by now, the options in these categories are often way more interesting than the top prizes. Where else will you find a documentary about a French egomaniac, an animated film about an Israeli war, or a movie about the daily lives of Antarcticans?

Best Foreign Language Film
Der Bader Meinhof Komplex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz with Bashir
Though Waltz with Bashir has allegedly has this prize locked up for weeks now, I'm going to go out on a (somewhat well-populated) limbo and say that The Class takes it. Why? It's been overlooked in the race against the animated war film, but as we learned from Wall-E's snub, the Academy doesn't take too kindly to animated films crashing the big categories. Bashir would be the first animated film to win in this category, and for that alone I think it's vulnerable. Also, I like The Class a lot better. Hey, I never claimed to be objective!
And the winner is: The Class

Best Documentary Feature
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
Man on Wire
Trouble the Water
It's possible that there will be another surprise here, like Waltz with Bashir not winning in the foreign category. But nothing else has emerged to replace Man on Wire in the general public imagination, and none of them has a figure as fascinating and complex as Philippe Petit to tubthump for it. Pretty much everyone loves this movie, and without anything better to vote for, they'll go for it.
And the winner is: Man on Wire

Previously

Predicting Best Original Song and Best Original Score

Predicting Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing
Predicting Best Costume Design, Best Art Direction, and Best Visual Effects Predicting Best Editing and Best Cinematography