Final Oscar Predictions

The Oscars are only about half a day away, and I'm saddened that this will be the first time since I've been really into the awards (about six years) that I won't be watching the Oscars. Rest assured, this is the last awards show I'll miss, and my missing it is only due to my presence in a foreign country where it would be broadcast in the wee hours of the night. I'll still have commentary on the winners sometime tomorrow. Additionally, don't forget to check back starting Wednesday for the announcement of my own awards, the 2nd Annual AFT Awards!

As far as these Oscars are concerned, I'm expecting fairly standard winners but I'd be careful to watch out for the most volatile category: Best Actress. Melissa Leo picked up an Independent Spirit Award last night for "Frozen River," and that puts her in decent standing (though hardly assures a win) with potential spoiler Anne Hathaway, frontrunner Kate Winslet, and possible victor Meryl Streep. Quite honestly, I'd be thrilled with anyone except Winslet, based solely on performances, but I'm not keeping my hopes high. Also, I believe that "Slumdog Millionaire" will sweep almost all of its awards and that "Frost/Nixon" will go home empty-handed. I think the show will be very short due to attempts to limit it to, I believe, 3 hours this year. That's rather unfortunate, but I won't be looking at it until at least tomorrow night, so hopefully they'll have gotten it right by next year. Happy watching, and leave comments of your own predictions or reactions to the ceremony!

No guts, no glory predictions:
MELISSA LEO for Best Actress
IN BRUGES for Best Original Screenplay
WANTED for Best Sound Editing

Final Predictions

BEST PICTURE: Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ACTOR: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS: Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Viola Davis, Doubt

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: Dustin Lance Black, Milk

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Slumdog Millionaire

FILM EDITING: Slumdog Millionaire

ART DIRECTION: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

COSTUME DESIGN: The Duchess

ORIGINAL SCORE: Slumdog Millionaire

ORIGINAL SONG: “Jai Ho” from Slumdog Millionaire

SOUND: Slumdog Millionaire

SOUND EDITING: Iron Man

MAKEUP: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

VISUAL EFFECTS: Iron Man

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: Waltz with Bashir

ANIMATED FEATURE: Wall-E

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: Man on Wire

DOCUMENTARY SHORT: The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306

ANIMATED SHORT: Presto

LIVE-ACTION SHORT: On the Line