Oscar Predictions

So here are my predictions for what I think and what I want to win an oscar. Films in green I want to win, films in blue I think will win and films in red I have not seen...yet. If there are numerous movies I have not seen in a category, I won't make any predictions. This year I ended up only seeing 7 complete categories....which makes me said, because last year I saw 11.

Update: I have added a gold asterisk next to the winning film for each category and also updated in green and blue my predictions for films I did not see but guessed after viewing the clips during the ceremony.

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Leonardo DiCaprio-Blood Diamond
Ryan Gosling-Half Nelson
Peter O'Toole-Venus
Will Smith-The Pursuit Of Happyness
*Forest Whitaker-The Last King Of Scotland


Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

*Alan ArkinAlan Arkin-Little Miss Sunshine
Jackie Earle Haley-Little Children
Djimon Hounsou-Blood Diamond
Eddie Murphy-Dreamgirls
Mark Wahlberg-The Departed


Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Penelope Cruz-Volver
Judi Dench-Notes On A Scandal
*Helen Mirren-The Queen
Meryl Streep-The Devil Wears Prada
Kate Winslet-Little Children


Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Adriana Barraza-Babel
Cate Blanchett-Notes On A Scandal
Abigail Breslin-Little Miss Sunshine
*Jennifer Hudson-Dreamgirls
Rinko Kikuchi-Babel


Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Cars
*Happy Feet
Monster House
(this one deserves an explanation: cars, although excellent, i thought was pixars worst movie so far. happy feet i got bored with nearing the end and monster house my sister saw and said she liked a lot more than cars.)

Achievement in Art Direction

Dreamgirls
The Good Shepherd
*Pan's Labyrinth
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
The Prestige


Achievement in Cinematography

The Black Dahlia
Children Of Men
The Illusionist
*Pan's Labyrinth
The Prestige


Achievement in Costume Design

Curse Of The Golden Flower
The Devil Wears Prada
Dreamgirls
*Marie Antoinette
The Queen


Achievement in Directing

Babel
*The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
The Queen
United 93
(I remember reading somewhere that Scorsese was blacklisted and he gets snuffed every year he's nominated; I would love to see him win, but I don't think it will happen.)
update: I'm so glad I was wrong and that Marty won. It was well deserved.

Best Documentary Feature

Deliver Us From Evil
*An Inconvenient Truth
Iraq In Fragments
Jesus Camp
My Country, My Country


Best Documentary Short Subject

*The Blood Of Yingzhou District
Recycled Life
Rehearsing A Dream
Two Hands


Achievement in Film Editing

Babel
Blood Diamond
Children Of Men
*The Departed
United 93


Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

After the Wedding
Days of Glory (Indigènes)
*The Lives Of Others
Pan's Labyrinth
Water


Achievement in Makeup

Apocalypto
Click
*Pan's Labyrinth


Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)

*Babel
The Good German
Notes On A Scandal
Pan's Labyrinth
The Queen
update: after hearing the clips of music I wanted to change my vote to Babel, but didn't. I was glad it won.


Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Song)

*An Inconvenient Truth
Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls
Cars
Dreamgirls
(I honestly don't care what wins. Just based on stats, Dreamgirls will likely win)


Best Motion Picture of the Year

Babel
*The Departed
Letters From Iwo Jima
Little Miss Sunshine
The Queen


Best Animated Short Film

*The Danish Poet
Lifted
The Little Matchgirl
Maestro
No Time For Nuts


Best Live Action Short Film

Binta And The Great Idea (binta Y La Gran Idea)
Eramos Pocos (One Too Many)
Helmer & Son
The Saviour
*West Bank Story


Achievement in Sound Editing

Apocalypto
Blood Diamond
Flags Of Our Fathers
*Letters From Iwo Jima
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest


Achievement in Sound Mixing

Apocalypto
Blood Diamond
*Dreamgirls
Flags Of Our Fathers
Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest


Achievement in Visual Effects

*Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Poseidon
Superman Returns


Adapted Screenplay

Borat Cultural Learnings Of America For Make Benefit Glorious Nation Of Kazakhstan
Children Of Men
*The Departed
Little Children
Notes On A Scandal


Original Screenplay

Babel
Letters From Iwo Jima
*Little Miss Sunshine
Pan's Labyrinth
The Queen



I also feel like mentioning that (in my opinion) the three best movies of the year in no particular order are The Departed, Children of Men and Babel. I would love to have seen Children of Men nominated for Best picture and Visual Effects in addition to the other categories it was nominated. It is easily the most overlooked film of the year. Read my earlier post on it. Also, I saw The Queen and don't really understand why it was nominated for so many things. It was indeed a good film, but I don't think it should really have been nominated for more than just costuming. Oh well. I won't be upset if it wins best picture, or at least not nearly as upset when Titanic beat out LA Confidential.

update: I pretty upset that Children of Men did not win for Best Cinematography. It was by far the best in that category. Don't get me wrong, I thought Pan's Labyrinth had great cinematography too, but what Children of Men had was beyond anything else I have ever seen.