And the Oscar Goes to...

Picks in all caps and bold

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

I really hope Slumdog wins because it was my favorite of the five.


BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins
Frank Langella
Sean Penn
Brad Pitt
MICKEY ROURKE

He's been cleaning up for playing a faded wrestler, plus his dog just died and he needs to thank her again.


BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway
Angelina Jolie
Melissa Leo
Meryl Streep
KATE WINSLET

Holocaust + accent + aging makeup = Oscar


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin
Robert Downey, Jr.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman
HEATH LEDGER
Michael Shannon

Oh c'mon!


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
AMY ADAMS
Penelope Cruz
Viola Davis
Taraji P. Henson
Marisa Tomei

Hard one to call. If Amy doesn't get it Taraji will although I liked her better in Hustle and Flow.


BEST DIRECTOR
DANNY BOYLE (Slumdog Millionaire)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)

Same reason as Best Picture


ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
MILK
Wall-E

I think they'll throw Milk a bone here.


ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

I heard it was a hard adaptation.


CINEMATOGRAPHY
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

I think it's between Slumdog and Changeling, but I hope Slumdog cleans up most of the categories for which it's nominated.


FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
The Baader Meinhof Complex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
WALTZ WITH BASHIR

It's been playing at the art houses for a while, and I don't know much about the others


ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung-Fu Panda
WALL-E

I hear they won't go back until they've kissed a girl.


EDITING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

This one usually follows best picture, doesn't it? Milk better not win this because I totally saw a boom mic in one shot.


ART DIRECTION
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
THE DUCHESS
Revolutionary Road

I'm going with the most periody of the choices. Benjamin Button might get more love than I think.


LIVE ACTION SHORT
Auf der Strecke (On the Line)
Manon on the Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND)

Holocaust movie.


ANIMATED SHORT
La Maison en Petits Cubes
Lavatory -- Lovestory
Oktapodi
PRESTO
This Way Up

If Wall-E doesn't win Presto might not win.


COSTUME DESIGN
Australia
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Duchess
Milk
Revolutionary Road

Same reason as Art Direction unless they give it to Australia to make Hugh a happy host.


MAKEUP
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

I liked the makeup more than the movie itself. I particularly liked the chins on the old people.


ORIGINAL SCORE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E

Hoping for a sweep!


DOCUMENTARY SHORT
The Conscience of Nhem En
The Final Inch
Smile Pinki
THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306

I'm going with the longest title.


DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)
Encounters at the End of the World
The Garden
MAN ON WIRE
Trouble the Water

That crazy French guy was on the talk show circuit. Plus, it's the twin towers.


SOUND MIXING
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted

I like the way the host said Millonaire. No "yun" sound


SOUND EDITING
The Dark Knight
Iron Man
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Wall-E
Wanted

Hmm. Wanted might pull an upset and sweep the sound categories but I'll stick with Slumdog.


VISUAL EFFECTS
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
THE DARK KNIGHT
Iron Man

Bat-pod!