Sympatico/MSN is opening the throttle on its Oscar coverage in the days leading up to the ceremony; fortunately, this week’s DVD column doubles as Academy commentary, seeing as how so many of this week’s new releases are — or believed themselves to be — contenders.

And we’re trying something new this year, as Anne Brodie and I engage in a sizzling back-and-forth about the nominations and their chances; in Part One, we consider the acting categories.

Remember, it’s all idle speculation until someone loses an eye. And then, well, it’s Oscar time!