Oscar Noms ... My Predictions

BEST PICTURE
(where the hell is "The Dark Knight"!?)

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Milk

Frost/Nixon

Comments: I honestly do not think Benjamin Button should have been nominated. It was good but it certainly should not "Best Picture" material. This film is getting completely over hyped. I think Slumdog Millionaire should win but I'm not sure. Milk and Frost/Nixon are really similar, or at least, political. I haven't seen The Reader. Based on all that I think this should go to Slumdog but they already won the Golden Globes and in most cases the Academy goes a different route, so I have no clue.

BEST DIRECTION

Stephen Daldry The Reader

Danny Boyle Slumdog Millionaire

David Fincher The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Gus Van Sant Milk

Ron Howard Frost/Nixon

Comments: Again, I think this should go to Danny Boyle for Slumdog.

BEST ACTOR

Brad Pitt The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Mickey Rourke The Wrestler

Sean Penn Milk

Frank Langella Frost/Nixon

Richard Jenkins The Visitor

Comment: I'm really not sure about this one. I think it's going to be between Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke, though.

BEST ACTRESS

Kate Winslet The Reader

Meryl Streep Doubt

Anne Hathaway Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie Changeling

Melissa Leo Frozen River

Comment: Jeez, I've only seen Changeling out of the whole bunch. I really want to see Doubt. Angelina Jolie did really well but I don't think she has a chance against Meryle Streep, Kate Winslet and Anne Hathaway. I think it's between those three.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Heath Ledger The Dark Knight

Philip Seymour Hoffman Doubt

Robert Downey Jr. Tropic Thunder

Josh Brolin Milk

Michael Shannon Revolutionary Road

Comments: We all know who this is going to. I have no idea why Robert Downey Jr. is on here. His performance in Tropic Thunder got really old fast. I've seen better African-American parodies from white folks before.

Marisa Tomei The Wrestler

Penelope Cruz Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Amy Adams Doubt

Viola Davis Doubt

Taraji P. Henson The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Comments: Again, I only saw one of these films. I really did like Taraji Henson in Benjamin Button but I think it's going to one of the Doubt ladies.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Frozen River
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Burges
Milk
WALL-E

Comments: This should go to WALL-E

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Comments: I haven't seen it but I think this could and should go to Doubt. The playright wrote the script and I saw the play and loved it.

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
(Didn't see any of them)

BEST DOCUMENTARY
(Didn't see any of them)

Comments: But Man on Wire will probably win it.

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE

Kung Fu Panda
Bolt
WALL-E

Comments: We all know whose got this in the bag.

BEST CINEMATOGRPAHY

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Comments: I think this one will be between Slumdog and Benjamin Button. Slumdog had way too many dutch angles so for me I would put my money on Benjamin Button, that was a beautifully shot film.

BEST ART DIRECTION

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
The Duchess
Revolutionary Road

Comments: Man, this one is up in the air for me.

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

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

Comments: Hmmm ... ?

BEST EDITING

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Forst/Nixon
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Comments: Either The Dark Knight or Slumdog.

BEST SOUND EDITING

The Dark Knight
Iron Man
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E
Wanted

Comments: Hmmm ... WALL-E?

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS

The Curious Case. of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Iron Man

Comments: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Mmhm ... definitely.

BEST MAKE UP

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Comments: Um ... Hellboy? Maybe Hellboy? Benjamin Button was more visual effects heavy than make-up. Yeah ... Hellboy.

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
(I guess "Joker's Theme" wasn't original enough)

"Jai Ho" - Slumdog Millionaire
"O Saya" - Slumdog Millinaire
"Down to Earth" - WALL-E

Comments: This one is really tough. It's definitely between "Jai Ho" or "Down to Earth" ... both are great songs but for different reasons. When I think of "Jai Ho" I get a really good feeling but in a dancing kind of way and when I listeten to "Down to Earth" I feel good to but in a more spiritual manner. Either way, "Joker's Theme" should be up here.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Defiance
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
WALL-E

Comments: Haha ... I'm listening to the Slumdog Millionaire score right now. I'd have to give it to Slumdog. I don't even remember the music in Benjamin Button. I didn't see Defiance. It could also go to WALL-E.

BEST SHORT FILM/SHORT DOCUMENTARY
(Didn't see any of them)

Peace