Oscars madness has reached fever pitch!

The Oscars is like an annual political campaign!

The red carpet has been shampooed, the statuettes polished and the “spontaneous” gags carefully rehearsed.

That’s right tonight is the night the movie world has been waiting for.

It’s the 86th Annual Academy Awards Ceremony and Hollywood is at fever pitch.

As the airwaves here in LA are filled with speculation about the runnes and riders, all I can think of is how much like a political campaign it is.

Movie studios know the prestige and money an Oscar win brings. That’s why they hire campaign managers to ensure their movie or actor lands one of the golden statues.

The managers target the 600 Academy Members by making sure the right stars turn up at the best events and say the proper things.

The Better Together and Yes Scotland campaigns must be looking on in envy.

This has been one of the best years for movies I can remember, and it’s hard to pick a winner in certain categories.

If you fancy a flutter though, then pretend I’m Ray Winstone for a second and ’ave a bang on these.

The big one is the Best Picture Category, so let’s start there. Out of the nine films nominated I reckon two are in with a shout.

It’ll come down to either the powerful drama 12 Years A Slave, or stunning sci-fi, Gravity.

I think 12 Years A Slave will nick it the Academy loves films about weighty subjects and it doesn’t get more powerful in America than slavery.

Alfonso Cuaron, meanwhile, will be able to console himself with the Best Director Oscar for Gravity.

It’s a gorgeous-looking piece of entertainment and Alfonso, who made Children of Men and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, should pick up the trophy there.

In the Best Actress category, Amy Adams and Sandra Bullock needn’t bother writing acceptance speeches.

Wonderful Aussie Cate Blanchett is a stick-on for her performance in Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine. Put the house, the kitchen sink and the family pet on that.

The closest category is probably Best Actor, which is a three-horse race.

The stallion, Leonardo DiCaprio, hasn’t won an Oscar, and may miss out again this year, despite being brilliant in The Wolf of Wall Street.

English thoroughbred Chiwetel Ejiofor was extraordinary in his first major role as Solomon Northup in 12 Years A Slave.

But how good is the skinny dark horse Matthew McConaughey?

A couple of years ago, the drawling southerner was starring in romcoms good work if you can get it, of course.

But it seemed like he was acting within his abilities. Matthew has stepped up his game recently and has gone up a couple of gears.

His role as an Aids-stricken smuggler in Dallas Buyers Club makes him the favourite in my book. Sorry, Leo and Chiwetel, this probably isn’t your year.

Matthew’s co-star, Jared Leto, should pick up the Best Supporting Actor gong.

Jared has been off being a rock star for a couple of years and has, remarkably, been nominated in his first movie back, the show off!

If you remember the Golden Globe Awards back in January then the star of the show was Lupita N’Yongo.

She portrayed slave Patsey in her first ever role, and looks set to pick up an Oscar for it.

Her wonderful caped red gown caught the eye of the world’s media at the Globes. It was a star-making moment, like when Elizabeth Hurle wore THAT dress, or when we all started talking about Pippa Middleton’s bum.

And no wonder. The build-up to the Oscars starts long before the ceremony begins at The Dolby Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.

There are a host of parties to contend with in the lead up to tonight’s main event. On Thursday night alone there were 12 parties.

Even Charlie Sheen would struggle to make it to all of those.

Aren’t you supposed to bring some wine to a party?

Think how many bottles of Jacob’s Creek you’d need for all those bashes.