From gowns to speeches, I am crazy about the Academy Awards. I sit rapt through the red carpet show, the award ceremony and the follow-up best and worst dressed shows that will follow all week. Obviously, I look forward to the Academy Awards, and they are finally here.
Here are my illustrious predictions:
Documentary Feature – The Betrayal (Nerakhoon), Encounters at the End of the World, Garden, Man on Wire, Trouble the Waters
Who I like: Man on Wire
Who will win: Man on Wire
Actress in a Supporting Role – Amy Adams (Doubt), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Viola Davis (Doubt), Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Maris Tomei (The Wrestler)
Who I like: Marissa Tomei
Who will win: Taraji P. Henson
Actor in a Supporting Role – Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Philip Seymore Hoffman (Doubt), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Who I like: Robert Downey Jr.
Who will win: Heath Ledger
Actress in a Leading Role – Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Who I like: Meryl Streep – Streep carries this film.
Who will win: Kate Winslet – It is Winslet’s year and I believe she will walk away with the little golden statue.
Actor in a Leading Role– Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Who I like: Mickey Rourke – Rourke somehow makes this character lovable despite his many flaws.
Who will win: Sean Penn – I think this film was well-timed and I do not believe the Academy is ready to give the ultimate award to Rourke.
Adapted Screenplay– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
Who I like: Slumdog Millionaire
Who will win: Slumdog Millionaire
Original Screenplay– Frozen River, Happy-Go-Lucky, In Bruges, Milk, WALL-E
Who I like: In Bruges
Who will win: Milk
Director –David Fincher (Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Who I like: Danny Boyle
Who will win: Ron Howard – This may be a stretch, but I have a hunch about this one.
Best Picture– The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
Who I like: Slumdog Millionaire
Who will win: Slumdog Millionaire
Note: I think Milk could be the upset, but I’m still going with Slumdog to win it all.