My Oscar Picks

This year's Academy Awards are tonight, they seemed to have come up out of no where. I am bummed I didn't get to to see all the nominees, but I'll take a shot at picking the winners.

Best picture

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

"Frost/Nixon"

"Milk"

"The Reader"

"Slumdog Millionaire"

I've seen two of the five Best Picture noms (TCCoBB and Slumdog). I really regret not seeing Milk. The other two films, I've no real desire to see. I enjoyed the two I viewed, but Slumdog really left an impression on me and I walked out of the that movie in a good mood. Benjamin Button sort of left me bummed out, but I was amazed at Brad Pitt's transformation. I love Cate Blanchett, she has got to be one of the greatest actresses of our time.

I think Slumdog will be able to accompany its Golden Globe with Mr. Oscar. I wouldn't be surprised to see Benjamin Button win though because it has the formula of an Oscar winner. The Academy loves sweeping epic movies with less than perfect characters with a lust for life (Forrest Gump anyone?)

Actor

Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"

Sean Penn, "Milk"

Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Just from the clips I've seen, Sean Penn as Harvey Milk looks so good. Seeing Sean Penn actually smiling is good enough for me because he usually looks pissed off or miserable. I'm rooting for him. Mickey Rourke would be the dark horse of course even though he won the GG. Oscar usually goes to people who look like humans. What happened to you Mickey?!?!

Actress

Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"

Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"

Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Meryl Streep, "Doubt"

Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

I have not seen any of these performances. I will just root for who I like the most. I love Kate Winslet. It would be cool if Anne Hathaway won though. I'd say it'd be quite the windfall for the star of Princess Diaries and Havoc. And I just have to say that Havoc was one of the dumbest movies I've ever seen, it was like the dialogue for the teens was written by a 40-year old who just wrote what he thought teenagers would sound like. If you haven't seen it, don't. So yeah, good luck Kate.

Supporting actor

Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"

Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"

Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

We all know who'll win this. Everyone loves Heath. We like seeing other people accept awards for the deceased. It would be a nice final page in the closing chapter on a brilliant, but all to short career. RD Jr. was the only redeeming part of Tropic Thunder. I was disappointed in that whole movie.

Supporting actress

Amy Adams, "Doubt"

Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

I just want Amy Adams to win because she was the handbag sales girl that visited Dunder Mifflin. So anyone with a connection to one of my favorite shows gets my vote. Taraji P. Henson was great though, especially if you actually see real interviews of her and how she speaks when she's not acting.

I don't have any idea how good Marisa Tomei is in The Wrestler, I think she's a very beautiful and talented actress, but dammit I wouldn't be able to stomach hearing "Two-time Oscar Winner for Best Supporting Actress and Best Actress....." preceeding her name at her next Oscar presenting gig.

Directing

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," David Fincher

"Frost/Nixon," Ron Howard

"Milk," Gus Van Sant

"The Reader," Stephen Daldry

"Slumdog Millionaire," Danny Boyle

Go Go Danny Boyle!