2008 Oscar Predictions

With 5 days left until the 80th Academy Awards presentation, I thought I'd just run down my predictions for the major categories. Traditionally I have picked through the nominations in two distinct ways: Who I expect to win and who I want to win. Sometimes these picks are the same. Other times emotion and an unbending stubbornness overrule common sense. What can I say? I'm still pissed about the lack of nominations for Gone, Baby Gone. But, you've read all that before. If not, click here.

If you need a rundown of the full nominees go here, and if you'd like a printable ballot to keep track for yourself, click here. Now that we've got that out of the way, let's proceed to the picks:

Best Actor:

Want: Daniel Day Lewis. This guy is just amazing. He becomes his characters more than any actor alive.

Winner: Daniel Day Lewis. See above.

Best Supporting Actor:

Want: Casey Affleck. Just can't believe he wasn't nominated for best actor and this is a make-up nom.

Winner: Javier Bardem. Wow, another guy who sells crazy like it's his job.

Best Actress:

Want: Ellen Page. C'mon, have you seen this girl act? First of many nominations I hope.

Winner: Julie Christie. Shoe in. The academy loves mental illness and tons of anguish.

Best Supporting Actress:

Want: Amy Ryan. She absolutely transformed herself to become this deplorable woman.

Winner: Amy Ryan. The competition just wasn't as strong, but Cate Blanchett is dark horse for playing a man.

Animated Film:

Want: Ratatouille. Have you seen this film? it's all heart.

Winner: Persepolis. The buzz on this movie is still high, and it's still playing in theaters.

Art Direction:

Want: There will be Blood/No Country for Old Men. Both are beautiful movies.

Winner: There will be Blood. Dark horse to Sweeney Todd, it is a musical you know.

Cinematography:

Want: There will be Blood. The camera shots in this film are intense, amazing angles

Winner: Atonement. If this film wins in this category, it will be for the one 5 minute long tracking shot.

Costume Design:

Want: Elizabeth: The Golden Age. This film was shot in order to emphasize the costumes.

Winner: Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Period pieces Atonement, and Le Vie en Rose are the dark horses.

Editing:

Want: The Bourne Ultimatum. You've never seen film cuts like this.

Winner: The Bourne Ultimatum.

Makeup:

Want: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Those artists worked 24/7.

Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. Dark horse - Norbit, pirates did have a lot of CGI.

Original Score:

Want: Ratatouille. I just really like that movie.

Winner: Atonement. yeah, that's a typewriter incorporated into the music.

Original Song:

Want: I don't care.

Winner: "Falling Slowly" - Once. The Academy just loves this type of movie.

Visual Effects:

Want: Transformers. It's the frickin' Transformers man!

Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End. Tons of action, and don't forget all those little crabs.

Adapted Screenplay:

Want: No Country for Old Men.

Winner: There Will be Blood. A lot of work went into this and pullling from different sources.

Original Screenplay:

Want: Juno. With a pen name like Diablo Cody, you can't go wrong.

Winner: Juno. Two words: Diablo Cody.

Best Director:

Want: There Will Be Blood. Paul Thomas Anderson put a lot of sweat and blood in, but it Does plod in places.

Winner: No Country for Old Men. It's the Coen's, and the media loves them. No plodding in this film.

Best Picture:

Want: Juno. It's just the little film that could and I love it for that. Plus, Ellen Page. Can't do anything wrong.

Winner: No Country for Old Men. This one is a coin toss with There Will Be Blood, my money's on Old Men.

Well there you have it. I didn't put the Sound Categories in, but I predict that Transformers will sweep. Unfortunately, I haven't seen any of the shorts, despite the neighborhood theater showing all of them currently. Also, for the first time in years, I've not seen any of the foreign films nominees, and they aren't garnering any buzz in the media. I skipped all the Documentaries this year, even "Sicko", though I think it will win.

If anyone would like to go Head-to-Head with me on winning picks, send in an e-mail and we'll post the results next week.

This is Elijah, and I'm just saying.