Special Edition! Oscar Picks

Those of you who knew me well back home know that I get a little obsessive about the Oscars. I follow the politics and the predictions, and I even like the movies themselves (Yeah. I genuinely enjoyed “The English Patient.” Sue me.). And usually my predictions are pretty accurate. I came in first place in the 2007 CNET Office Pool, although I fell to a measly 3rd in 2008. Elizabeth, you would have a target on your back if I was still stateside.

Usually I see most of the movies as soon as the Golden Globe nominations come out, but this year of all the films up for best picture, I’ve only seen “Slumdog Millionaire.” So I’m making my picks blindly, but I figure The Academy is often predictable. So here goes…

Note: I realize I’m a bit down to the wire, but I’m posting this at 12:36 p.m. Samoa Time, which is 3:36 PST, and 6:36 EST, so I’m going on the record with my predictions before the show starts. Cool?

Best Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire."
Actor: Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"
Actress: Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"
Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Director: Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Foreign Film: "The Class," France
Adapted Screenplay: John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"
Original Screenplay: "In Bruges"; Dustin Lance Black
Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E"
Art Direction: "Changeling"
Cinematography: "Changeling"
Sound Mixing: "The Dark Knight"
Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight"
Original Score: "WALL-E," Thomas Newman.
Original Song: "Down to Earth" from "WALL-E," Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Costume: "The Duchess"
Documentary Feature: “Trouble the Water"
Documentary (short subject) : "The Witness — From the Balcony of Room 306"
Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire"
Makeup: "The Dark Knight"
Animated Short Film: "This Way Up"
Live Action Short Film: "Spielzeugland (Toyland) "
Visual Effects: "The Dark Knight"