Oscar Predictions

Best Picture

Babel
The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen

Winner: The Departed
Alternate: Little Miss Sunshine
My Vote: Babel

To me, Babel is the best picture of the year. However, I feel that a Martin Scorsese pic is the right choice for this year and plus, it's a close second for me behind Babel. Little Miss Sunshine does have the chance for an upset with the PGA and the SAG behind it.

Best Director

Clint Eastwood- Letters From Iwo Jima
Stephen Frears- The Queen
Paul Greengrass- United 93
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu- Babel
Martin Scorsese- The Departed

Winner: Martin Scorsese- The Departed
Alternate: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu- Babel
My Vote: Martin Scorsese- The Departed

Marty has been overdue for a billion years and he should get his due recognition tonight. If he doesn't......it would be a MAJOR travesty. His direction of The Departed was masterful.

Best Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio- Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling- Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole- Venus
Will Smith- The Pursuit of Happyness
Forest Whitaker- The Last King of Scotland

Winner: Forest Whitaker- The Last King of Scotland
Alternate: Peter O'Toole- Venus
My Vote: Leonardo DiCaprio- The Depa......Blood Diamond?

Forest Whitaker is going to take this tonight. Even though I haven't seen his performance yet, there is no denying that he has made an amazing impression with critics. My vote would go to Leo. I'm just gonna pretend that it says The Departed next to his name instead of Blood Diamond.

Best Actress in a Leading Role

Penelope Cruz- Volver
Judi Dench- Notes on a Scandal
Helen Mirren- The Queen
Meryl Streep- The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet- Little Children

Winner: Helen Mirren- The Queen (DUH!)
Alternate: Meryl Streep- The Devil Wears Prada
My Vote: Kate Winslet- Little Children

Helen Mirren will be crowned for The Queen tonight. Receiving over 20 critics awards is a sure sign that she is going to win tonight. Meryl Streep doesn't have a chance at all, but if there were chances she would have one. To me, Kate Winslet gave a career defining performance in Little Children. While Mirren was great, Winslet was extraordinary.

Best Supporting Actor

Alan Arkin- Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley- Little Children
Djimon Hounsou- Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy- Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg- The Departed

Winner: Eddie Murphy- Dreamgirls
Alternate: Alan Arkin- Little Miss Sunshine
My Vote: Jackie Earle Haley- Little Children

Eddie Murphy did win the Golden Globe and the Screen Actor, so I think he has a good shot at winning this. Alan Arkin recently won the BAFTA and he could upset Murphy. My vote goes to Jackie Earle Haley for giving a creepy but deeply sad performance in Little Children. Making a sex offender a sympathetic character is no easy task and Haley fulfills it marvelously.

Best Supporting Actress

Adriana Barraza- Babel
Cate Blanchett- Notes on a Scandal
Abigail Breslin- Little Miss Sunshine
Jennifer Hudson- Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi- Babel

Winner: Jennifer Hudson- Dreamgirls
Alternate: Abigail Breslin- Little Miss Sunshine
My Vote: Adriana Barraza- Babel

Jennifer Hudson is as sure of a lock as Mirren is. This is a true breakout, star making performance. She comes in a close second place for me. First place, however, is Adriana Barraza's heartbreaking and devastating work in Babel. Her last scene, in particular, just floored me. If there was any chance for an upset, it would go to Abigail Breslin for her endearing and heartwarming work in Little Miss Sunshine.

Best Original Screenplay: Michael Arndt- Little Miss Sunshine
Best Adapted Screenplay: William Monahan- The Departed
Best Animated Feature: Cars
Best Art Direction: Pan's Labyrinth
Best Cinematography: Children of Men
Best Costume Design: Marie Antoinette
Best Film Editing: The Departed
Best Documentary Feature: An Inconvenient Truth
Best Original Song: Listen- Dreamgirls
Best Original Score: Pan's Labyrinth
Best Makeup: Pan's Labyrinth
Best Sound Mixing: Dreamgirls
Best Sound Editing: Letters From Iwo Jima
Best Visual Effects: Pirates 2
Best Foreign Film: Pan's Labyrinth
Best Animated Short: The Little Match Girl
Best Live-Action Short: West Bank Story
Best Documentary Short: Recycled Life