Oscars

So tomorrow is the big night. I'm missing a Say Anything show in Philly to see this so I'd better be pleased with the results. I can't wait to see what Chris Rock has to say, as I'm a HUGE fan of his. I'm sure he'll drop a few controversial remarks and some organization somewhere is sure to be pissed at him on Monday morning. But the reason for this post is my picks, so if there's any last minute pools you want to enter, here's what you need to know.
Best Animated Feature: The Incredibles
I absolutely loved this movie. Best animated movie since the Nightmare Before Christmas.
Best Visual Effects: Spider-man 2
Only reason I care about this category is so I can see my favorite movie of the year win something.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Sideways
I'm guessing this will follow last year's big indie picture, Lost in Translation and only win in the screenplay category. I'm not sure why. Maybe the Academy just values originality more in writing than film.
Best Original Screenplay: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
How this is not nominated for Best Picture is beyond me. The best film of 2004 had damn well better win SOMETHING. Oh yeah and Charlie Kaufman's a genius.
Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett
She was phenomenal in the Aviator, and between this, the Life Aquatic, and Lord of the Rings, she's quickly becoming one of my favorite actresses (even though I'm almost always annoyed by her character when she first appears in a movie)
Best Supporting Actor: Morgan Freeman
Yeah he's been better in other things, but this is his fourth nomination without a win yet and he's getting up in years so I think they'll give it to him this time since there's not really a stand-out in this category.
Best Actress: Hillary Swank
Her performance in Million Dollar Baby has Oscar written all over it. I'd go into further details but that'd give away too much of the movie. Just trust me on this one if you haven't seen it. (Personally I'd love to see Kate Winslet win this one but the smart money's on Swank)
Best Actor: Jamie Foxx
Biggest no-brainer of the night. He's probably already got a spot on the mantle cleared for it. Aside from Clint, every nominee in this category is playing a real person. Where Foxx stands out is that unlike the rest you don't once think of him as anyone aside from the person he's playing over the course of the movie. Add to that the fact that he's playing a blind heroin addict and you start to see why pretty much everyone's written this one off already.
Best Director: Martin Scorcese
I don't care that most people are calling Clint the favorite here. I don't care about the criticisms of the film being a little long and needing some of the fat trimmed. It is a CRIME that Marty has not won this award yet and I think this year they've got a good enough reason to finally give it to him (as opposed to 02's Gangs of New York).
Best Picture: The Aviator
My favorite of the films nominated. Ray and Finding Neverland are great films but not considered big contenders and Sideways is a little too offbeat and indie for the less hip members of the Academy. The biggest competition comes from Million Dollar Baby, but I think the Aviator's got the edge here.
So there you have it, and unlike Entertainment Weekly i won't even ask for a cut of the winnings.