And The Oscar Goes To…

….So Panda Hugger and I watched the always funny and hilariously  raunchy  Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday. How cool was it that ‘The Wrestler’  triumphed big here (Best Feature and   Best Cinematography)  and Mickey Rourke made his best acceptance speech ever this award season after winning Best Actor – Man, I hope this isn’t a consolation prize for the Academy Awards. Oh… and isn’t the new Oscar set for the big show just fabulous – sooo Bob Mackie!!

Funny how fast an Oscar season goes by…only last year ‘No Country For Old Men’ was being  given the Academy Award for Best Picture. From this clip of   Hugh Jackman in rehearsals,   I’m beginning to feel Hollywood’s High Holy Night will be great. I have that happy-happy, joy-joy feeling right about now.   However, the Panda and I have HUGE reservations about this year’s presenters not being allowed to walk the traditional Red Carpet. C’mon AMPAS, that’s the best thing about Oscar Day!

It’s been an interesting season to say the least. First, the best reviewed, biggest money-maker of the year, ‘The Dark Knight, didn’t see a Best Director or Best Picture  nod. Second, the come-outta-nowhere,  juggernaut that is ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. For pete sakes, it wasn’t even in Entertainment Weekly’s Annual Fall Preview edition. Add to the fact that the movie with the most nominations usually wins, as it has 15 times in the last 20 years. This year ‘Benjamin Button’ has 13 nods and ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ has 10 nominations. As Panda Hugger keeps reminding me, “It’s gonna be one of those off years.” After much debate, rethinking, and more than a passing glance at Sasha Stone’s Big Bad Oscar chart over at Awards Daily, here are my predictions for the 81st Academy Awards….

Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Director, Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Supporting Actress: Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Animated Film: “Wall-E”
Foreign-Language Film: “Departures”
Documentary: “Trouble the Water”
Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Costume Design: “The Duchess”
Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Music Score: “Slumdog Millionaire
Song: “Jai Ho,” Slumdog Millionaire
Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight”
Sound Mixing: “The Dark Knight”
Live Action Short: “Spielzugland (Toyland)”
Animated Short: “La Maison en Petits Cubes”
Documentary Short: “The Witness: From the Balcony of Room 306″

So where am I off? Who would you like to see walk off with the Golden Guy? Leave your Oscar predix down below.