Oscar Predictions

It’s that time of year again and you know how I love to give my predictions, so let’s get started!

Best Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Who Will Win: Obviously, Slumdog.
My Pick: I’ve already said I thought the best movie was Doubt, but that didn’t make the cut. I liked Slumdog and won’t be disappointed to see it win. But, given these choices, if I were a member of the academy, I would’ve voted for Frost/Nixon.

Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Who Will Win: It’s a toss-up between Penn & Rourke, with the oh-so-slight edge going to Rourke.
My Pick: I didn’t see Milk, so I can’t make a fair assessment of Penn. My pick is Rourke. He was great in The Wrestler and deserves the win.

Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Who Will Win: I hate to say it, but I think Kate’s got the momentum, though Meryl and Anne are more deserving.
My Pick: This one is hard for me. I have a tough time deciding between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. On the one hand you have Streep who put on an acting clinic in Doubt. You know she’s great, but she can still blow you away. On the other hand, you have Hathaway who blew me away because I didn’t know she had it in her. If I put the two performances up side-by-side, I’d probably give the upper hand to Streep. But factoring in the intangibles, I would’ve put in my vote for Hathaway.

Supporting Actor
James Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Who Will Win: Ledger. Slam dunk.
My Pick: Ledger

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marissa Tomei, The Wrestler
Who Will Win: I think this is the category that’s most up in the air. I’m afraid Amy Adams and Viola Davis are going to split the Doubt vote opening the door for Penelope Cruz to walk away the victor. But I think I’ll go out on a limb and say Viola sneaks in for the much deserved win.
My Pick: Viola Davis. She stole the show in Doubt. Seriously, she had one scene - opposite Meryl Streep no less - and she knocked it so far out of the park people are still looking for it. How she doesn’t win this is beyond me.

Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Who Will Win: Danny Boyle
My Pick: Danny Boyle. Even though I don’t think it was the best movie, I definitely think it was the best directed. It was well shot and he got some good performances out of virtual unknowns. He did more with less and deserves the win.

So there you have it, folks. My 2009 Oscar predictions. And, for the record, these are all done without the help of others. I like to make my picks and then read what everyone else is thinking. It’s more fun that way.