The Oscars 2009: Who Will Win Best Actor/Actress?

We're down to the Sunday we've waiting for all year: Oscar Sunday.

Obviously there's been a mistake made -- I never received my invitation to the stellar event. Must've been lost in the mail, or, worse, some postal employee is dressing up in his or her slate blue uniform and taking my place. (Ooh, I shudder at that image.) Still, such a problem won't stop me from issuing my picks on who will win, and who should win.

Best Actor: Sean Penn should win, Sean Penn will win.

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger should win, Heath Ledger will win.

Best Actress: Kate Winslet should win, Kate Winslet will win.

Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis should win, Penelope Cruz will win.

Best Animated Feature: Wall*E should win, Wall*E will win.

Best Art Direction: Revolutionary Road should win, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will win.

Best Cinematography: The Dark Knight should win, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will win.

Best Costume Design: Revolutionary Road should win, The Duchess will win.

Best Director: Milk should win, Slumdog Millionaire will win.

Best Documentary Feature: Encounters at the End of the World should and will win.

Best Foreign Language Film: The Class should win, Waltz with Bashir will win.

Best Makeup: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should and will win.

Best Visual Effects: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button should and will win.


Best Adapted Screenplay: Doubt should win, Slumdog Millionaire will win.

Best Original Screenplay: Frozen River should win, Milk will win.


Now for some comments:

Best Actor: This contest is between Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn, and I have no real idea how it's going to turn out. However, I believe Sean Penn should take it, as he absolutely morphed himself into a very different yet historical figure -- we know this guy -- which was truly amazing. Mickey Rourke, although giving a fantastic performance, always remained, at least partially, Mickey Rourke.

Best Actress: I think this is Kate Winslet's year for the role for which she was not nominated: Revolutionary Road. I think the academy will recognize that. However, Streep is certainly a possibility -- she hasn't won since 1982 -- and the others are very deserving.

Best Supporting Actor: Ledger, no doubt. His nearest competition is a four-way tie. For last.

Best Supporting Actress: All of these performances were brilliant, but most were brief, so there's no real telling. Cruz is popular, and she changed the dynamic of the entire film when she came on. However, Viola Davis stopped Meryl Streep in her tracks, and that has to be worth something.

Directing, Best Picture, maybe several others: Slumdog Millionaire is the popular film this year, and that joie-de-vivre could carry over into other categories.

I'm guessing that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will win special/visual effects and very little else.

So, sit back, mark your own ballot, and watch the show!