Oscar Predictions

I have been away for some time, I apologize.

Many critics have called this year's crop of OSCAR nominee's one of the most competitive groups "in recent memory" (what a ballsey call). Despite such daring superlatives, the field is not as tough to handicap as one might think. Most categories have only two "favorites".

I will offer a list of "Will Win(ers)". And to inform the public of my own preferences I shall also include a notation for who/what "Should've Won".

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Don Cheadle - HOTEL RWANDA *****SHOULD WIN
Johnny Depp - FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio - THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood - MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx - RAY - *****WILL WIN

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Alan Alda - THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church - SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx - COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman - MILLION DOLLAR BABY *****WILL WIN , ***** SHOULD WIN
Clive Owen - CLOSER

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening - BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno - MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton - VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank - MILLION DOLLAR BABY ***** WILL WIN, ***** SHOULD WIN
Kate Winslet - ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Cate Blanchett - THE AVIATOR ***** WILL WIN
Laura Linney - KINSEY
Virginia Madsen - SIDEWAYS ***** SHOULD WIN
Sophie Okonedo - HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman - CLOSER

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

THE INCREDIBLES * ONLY SAW THE INCREIBLES, cool film
SHARK TALE
SHREK 2

ART DIRECTION

THE AVIATOR *****WILL WIN, *****SHOULD WIN
FINDING NEVERLAND
LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT

CINEMATOGRAPHY

THE AVIATOR ***** WILL WIN
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT ***** SHOULD WIN


DIRECTING

THE AVIATOR ***** WILL WIN, ***** SHOULD WIN ("It's Marty's year", as they say)
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS
VERA DRAKE

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

BORN INTO BROTHELS *****SHOULD WIN
THE STORY OF THE WEEPING CAMEL
SUPER SIZE ME ***** WILL WIN
TUPAC: RESURRECTION
TWIST OF FAITH


FILM EDITING

THE AVIATOR ***** WILL WIN
COLLATERAL *****SHOULD WIN
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

AS IT IS IN HEAVEN *****SADLY, really shamefully, I have seen none of these
THE CHORUS
DOWNFALL
THE SEA INSIDE
YESTERDAY


BEST PICTURE

THE AVIATOR *****WILL WIN, *****SHOULD WIN
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS


WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

BEFORE SUNSET ***** SHOULD WIN
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
SIDEWAYS ***** WILL WIN

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

THE AVIATOR ***** WILL WIN
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND ***** SHOULD WIN
HOTEL RWANDA
THE INCREDIBLES
VERA DRAKE