for those of you keeping score, I guessed correctly 9.5 times, and guessed incorrectly 8.5 times.

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This year's show was pretty blah. The movies nominated weren't killer-diller ie. Titanic, Lord of the Rings etc.

Chris Rock was pretty darn funny, but seemed kinda outta place as the awards host. I chalk most of this up to this being his first time to host the awards, but I also felt a twinge of restraint from him. And for those of you who are familiar with Chris Rock's stand-up, he's at his best when he's not restrained. I've seen him host some MTV awards shows, and he brought the house down. The bit at the "Magic Johnson Theaters" was pretty hilarious. Maybe he's better at lesser glitz affairs. His best stuff was when he introduced the presenters by deflating them a little bit. That was pretty nice to see the stars get taken down a peg by the host.

Best jab: when introducing Halle Berry: "We're eagerly awaiting her role in the upcoming 'Catwoman 2.'

What was up with the loud banging sounds throughout the show?!?! Nice save by Jeremy Irons.

Beyonce???? She's an incredible singer. When it's all said and done, she's going to make Whitney feel like a lounge singer. But it is kinda odd that she sang three of the 5 songs. The nominated songs were pretty good songs, but there wasn't one show stopper in the bunch.

Prince is one sharply dressed individual.

The format was kinda odd, and pagent-lite. But I liked it. Cut down on the boring, mundane stuff.

"Million Dollar Baby"....overrated much?

-see below for more blow by blow reactions-
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Best Picture

Who should win: The Aviator

Who will win: The Aviator

wrong: Million Dollar Baby

Ugh...I like "Million Dollar Baby," okay. It was a good movie. Heck, it's a *really* good movie. But come on, should this movie have beaten either "Sideways" or "The Aviator?" My answer is no. I felt that parts of it were way contrived in a "please give me the Oscar" type of way. Parts of it reminded me of that scene in "Wayne's World" when Mike Meyers said, "...and I never learned to read."

"The Aviator" was just an all around great movie and should have won. "Million Dollar Baby" will be like "A Beautiful Mind," and will end up collecting dust over time.

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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.

Half-Incorrect

So I'm copping out on the pick. Oh well.

Here's the deal...

Freeman and Swank may have won their Oscars, but Scorsese got more overrall great performances out of his actors than Eastwood did. Freeman deserved to win, but that was more of a "lifetime award." But when you see Leonardo DiCaprio, Alan Alda, Cate Blanchette, and John C. Reilly, you can't tell me that they didn't give better performances than anyone in "Million Dollar Baby."

Plus, "The Aviator" was more technically difficult to direct than "MDB." The skill that went into telling "The Aviator" belongs to the only man who *could* have directed "The Aviator."

PLUS...GIVE THE MAN THE OSCAR. He's one of the all-time great directors. Oh well. Maybe he'll make "Raging Bull 2."

This award soured my evening above all others.

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Best Actor

Who should win: Don Cheadle

Who will win: Jamie Foxx

Correct

No surprises. GREAT speech. It's good to see that African Americans swept the Actor and Supporting Actor awards. Kudos to Jamie Foxx.

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Best Actress

Who should win: Kate Winslet

Who will win: Annette Bening

Incorrect

Hillary Swank is an incredible actress, so I have no problem with her winning. I haven't even seen "Being Julia," so my pick was more of a crap-shoot.

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Best Supporting Actor

Who should win: Morgan Freeman

Who will win: Morgan Freeman

Correct

God is *almost* a merciful god.

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Best Supporting Actress

Who should win: Sophie Okonedo

Who will win: Queen Amidala

Incorrect

Damn you, Star Wars bias...or lust bias. Or whatever it is. ;-)

Cate Blanchette is a great actress. No problem here.

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Best Original Screenplay

Who should win: "Eternal Sunshine"

Who will win: "Eternal Sunshine"

Correct

EXCELLENT. Yay!!!

The best-non Jamie Foxx, speech of the night.

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Best Cinematography

Who should win: The Aviator

Who Will Win: The Aviator

correct

I LOVE Robert Richardson's work. Anyone's who has seen his work with Quentin Tarantino (Kill Bill vol 1 and 2), all of Oliver Stone's movies, and his work with Scorsese (The Aviator and Casino), knows that he is a god among cinematographers.

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Visual Effects

Who Should Win: Spiderman 2

Who Will Win: Spiderman 2

correct

Great effects for a great movie.

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Achievement in Costume Design

"The Aviator:

correct

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Achievement in Sound-Mixing

I chose "The Aviator."

They chose "Ray."

Incorrect

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Best Animated Feature

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

Who WILL win: The Incredibles

correct

Praise be to Allah. "Shrek 2" was great in parts, but not overall great like "The Incredibles" was. It's good to see substance win over a 2 hour pop-culture schlock fest.

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Adapted Screenplay

Who should: Sideways

Who will: Million Dollar Baby

Who did win: Sideways

Incorrect

A great movie that won the one award it probably should have won. Can't wait to see Alexander Payne's next movie.

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Film Editing

I chose "Collateral"

They chose "The Aviator"

Incorrect

Thelma Schoonmaker is one of my all-time favorite editors. She's incredible. Just look at her body of work and be amazed.

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Achievement in Art Direction

"The Aviator"

correct

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Achievement in Make-Up

I chose "The Passion of the Christ."

They chose "Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events"

Incorrect

An unconventional pick, but a good pick...I guess. I never would have guessed that "Lemony Snicket" would have won though. I mean, they gave Jesus 40 lashings... ;-)

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Achievement in Sound Editing

"The Incredibles"

Correct

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Best Score

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

Who will win: "The Passion"

Who did win: "Finding Neverland"

Incorrect

Can't wait to see "Finding Neverland" again.

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And the show wasn't even 4 hours long. Weird!