I'm going to play Nostradamus for a second and try to guess the various winners of this year's Oscars. I've seen as many of the nominated movies as I can, but where I haven't, I'll still put in my two cents.

I don't necessarily feel that in all cases, the nominated movies are the best representatives of their category, and I'll express this accordingly throughout. But I'm doing this more as a "let's see how well my predictions turn out" type of thing.

I'm interested to see how well I can predict this thing. I did pretty well on predicting the winners of the Golden Globes, with about 80% of my choices being correct. Let's see how I do this time.

Let the games begin!

*editor's note* - I printed the nominees off a website that had them really weirdly ordered, so don't be confused by the ordering of the nominees.

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Best motion picture of the year

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways

This one is a toss-up. As brilliant as they were, I don't think that "Finding Neverland" or "Sideways" are the types of movies that win the top Oscar prize. With that being said, the Best Picture prize will go to either "Ray," "Million Dollar Baby," or "The Aviator."

I really liked "Ray" a lot, but I feel that it was too conventional a biopic to win the best picture. Should Jamie Foxx win "Best Actor," there could be a bit of a spillover. But I don't think that'll happen.

"Million Dollar Baby" or "The Aviator?" Apples or oranges? If I'm a betting man, I've gotta go with "The Aviator." Not only do I think it's a better movie, I have a feeling that this is going to be Scorsese's year. I know, the critics are not picking this to win, but I feel like going out on a limb here.

Who should win: The Aviator

Who will win: The Aviator

wrong: Million Dollar Baby

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Performance by an actor in a leading role

Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Jamie Foxx, Ray

This is probably the tightest race of the year. We can probably go ahead and rule out Johnny Depp. Although he had a difficult job playing the anti-Jackson, uncreepy man-child, there really wasn't anything here that screams Oscar.

Don Cheadle should win the award, but I don't think he will. He gave the best performance of the year, easily. There's a possibility he could get the Adrien Brody award, should Clint-Jamie-Leo cancel each other out. There's a chance...

Clint Eastwood gave a good performance, although I'd argue it's the same performance he's been giving for the past 40 years. There was some nuance in there, but that was more the script than anything else. The Academy does like Clint, but I don't think he'll win.

Leonardo DiCaprio was excellent in his performance. As un-like Howard Hughes as he looked, he really melted into the part. He had some really great Oscar-loving moments in the movie, but not in the cheesy "I never learned to read" type of way.

I really thought that Jamie Foxx was spectacular as Ray Charles. He too had some really great Oscar moments. Besides Ray's music, Jamie Foxx was the only reason why I dug "Ray." I'd say that it's pretty much his to lose. The Best Actor award seems to be made for performances like his.

Who should win: Don Cheadle

Who will win: Jamie Foxx

Correct

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Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Alan Alda, The Aviator
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Jamie Foxx, Collateral
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Clive Owen, Closer

I haven't seen "Closer," but I'm pretty sure we can rule out Clive Owen.

Thomas Haden Church was really great, but not Oscar-winner worthy.

Jamie Foxx is going to win the Best Actor, so I don't think he's going to win the Best Supporting Actor. Should he win this award, change my answer above to Leonardo DiCaprio. ;-)

Alan Alda was great as the mean spirited senator in "The Aviator" but...

As I've said in posts prior, the fact that Morgan Freeman has never won an Academy Award makes me wanna break things. This is going to be the second Paul Newman-Sean Connery "we owe this to you for your body of work" award of the night.

Who should win: Morgan Freeman

Who will win: Morgan Freeman

correct

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Original screenplay

The Aviator
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Hotel Rwanda
The Incredibles
Vera Drake

"The Aviator's" main strengths were direction and acting, but what is either without a great script. Since I'm predicting "The Aviator" to win the top prize, there's a good chance it'll win this award too.

"Hotel Rwanda" was brilliant, but I don't think it'll win this award.

Think the Academy voters are going to give an award to a movie about abortion??? "Vera Drake" is out.

"The Incredibles" was just that, incredible. The script is GREAT, but not Oscar winner great.

I'd like to see "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" win the award. It was by far the best original script out there, and was probably Charlie Kaufman's greatest script as well.

Who should win: "Eternal Sunshine"

Who will win: "Eternal Sunshine"

correct

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Achievement in cinematography

The Aviator
House of Flying Daggers
The Passion of the Christ
The Phantom of the Opera
A Very Long Engagement

I'm biased on this category. Robert Richardson is by far my favorite cinematographer, and I expect him to win for "The Aviator."

For all it's faults, "The Passion..." had some really great cinematography. There's a possibility that it could win the award, but I think that's a long shot. The safe money is with "The Aviator."

correct

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Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
I, Robot
Spider-Man 2

Ummm..."Spiderman 2" will win this. It should anyways since they drastically improved the effects for the sequel.

correct

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Achievement in costume design

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Ray
Troy

Snore...

"The Aviator"

correct

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Achievement in sound mixing

The Aviator
The Incredibles
The Polar Express
Ray
Spider-Man 2

Let's go with...."The Aviator" again. It's going to be one of those evenings.

Incorrect: Ray

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Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

"Accidentally In Love," Shrek 2
"Al Otro Lado Del Río," The Motorcycle Diaries
"Believe," The Polar Express
"Learn To Be Lonely," The Phantom of the Opera
"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)," The Chorus (Les Choristes)

Are you shitting me??? Not ONE good song in the bunch. This is the who cares moment of the evening for me.

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Best animated feature film of the year

The Incredibles
Shark Tale
Shrek 2

If anything *but* "The Incredibles" wins this award, I will turn off my television and throw it out the window. Don't test me...

Technically, "Team America" could have gotten nominated. That's the only *animated* movie that could give "The Incredibles" a run for it's money.

Who SHOULD win: Ummm...not Shrek 2 if that's what you're wondering.

Who WILL win: The Incredibles

Correct

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Best documentary feature

Born into Brothels
The Story of the Weeping Camel
Super Size Me
Tupac: Resurrection
Twist of Faith

I've only seen "Super Size Me."

Who Should Win: "The Control Room" should have been nominated.

Who will win: Your guess is as good as mine.

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Achievement in directing

The Aviator, Martin Scorsese
Million Dollar Baby, Clint Eastwood
Ray, Taylor Hackford
Sideways, Alexander Payne
Vera Drake, Mike Leigh

Damnit. Give it to Scorsese and undo the wrongs of year's past. If he wasn't robbed out of his award for "Raging Bull," he was definitely robbed for his direction of "Goodfellas." Sorry Costner, as great as "Dances With Wolves" was, it's not a classic like "Goodfellas."

All the directors were great this year, and I won't be *too* upset should any of them win. I think "Million Dollar Baby" was a tad bit overrated.

Who should win: Scorsese--This is his lifetime's work award.

Who will win--Probably Eastwood, but I'm going to pick Scorsese to win the award this year.

Incorrect

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Performance by an actress in a leading role

Annette Bening, Being Julia
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

ALL fantastic. All great.

I'd like to see Kate Winslet win since she's the best actress working in movies. I think that it'll probably come down to Hillary Swank (the other great actress working in movies) or Annette Bening, who sadly doesn't ever get her due. I don't think Hillary Swank is going to beat Annete Bening again though.

Who should win: Kate Winslet

Who will win: Annette Bening

Incorrect

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Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda
Natalie Portman, Closer

I think Natalie Portman is going to take the Marisa Tomei award of the evening. hahaha

Sorry...got delusional for a second. This one's a crap shoot. I wouldn't be surprised to see NP get it though. I mean, she is the mother of Luke and Leia. ;-)

Who should win: Sophie Okonedo

Who will win: Queen Amidala

Incorrect

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Adapted screenplay

Before Sunset
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
The Motorcycle Diaries
Sideways

"Million Dollar Baby" is going to take it. "Sideways" should take it, but it's going to be "Million Dollar Baby."

Who should: Sideways

Who will: Million Dollar Baby

Incorrect

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Achievement in film editing

The Aviator
Collateral
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray

"Collateral" all the way. What a finely edited movie that was. :-)

Incorrect

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Achievement in art direction

The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Phantom of the Opera
A Very Long Engagement

"The Aviator"

correct

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Achievement in makeup

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Passion of the Christ
The Sea Inside

"The Passion of the Christ." Hey, what can I say, it was the best zombie movie of the year.

Incorrect

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Achievement in sound editing

The Incredibles
The Polar Express
Spider-Man 2

"The Incredibles" will take this.

Correct

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Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

Finding Neverland
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events
The Passion of the Christ
The Village

"The Village" is nominated??? I gotta go with "Finding Neverland." But who knows, maybe "The Passion" will take it.

meh...Wasn't blown away by any of these scores.

Who should win: The Incredibles had the most memorable score of the year. It should have been nominated.

Who will win: Call me when I care...I'm going out on a limb, but I'm going with "The Passion".

Incorrect

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whew...that was almost as long as the show itself.