Mindy's Oscar Picks: Who Will Win, Who Should Win, and Who Got The Shaft

The 81st annual Academy Awards are upon us, and thus it is necessary for me to do the all to well-known Oscar picks post. If a certain blogger named John, who's name just so happens to be apart of this blog, can find it in his heart to follow suit, maybe we could get some good arguments...I mean discussions going.

First, let me say that I am already a little disappointed with the whole ordeal because I already know who's going to win best picture, and it definitely is NOT the best movie of the year. But hey, it won't be the first time the Academy has completely effed up. See 1980 when Scorcese lost best director for Raging Bull, or 1998 when Gwenyth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love) beat out Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth) for best actress and Saving Private Ryan lost to Shakespeare in Love for best picture as prime examples.

Anyways, enough complaining and time for the picks. I clearly am not going to cover every single category, namely those categories where I have not seen more than one of the films nominated, or those categories where I just don't care. Oh, and the category of "Who Got the Shaft" is referring to who got snubbed nomination-wise.

Best Supporting Actress:
Who Will Win: Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Who Should Win: Viola Davis for Doubt
Who Got the Shaft: Kate Winslet for The Reader

Ok, so a couple of comments. First, enough with the SJo/Woody Allen garbage. SJo could not act her way out of a paper bag. Secondly, I put Kate Winslet in this category because I honestly think she is in the wrong category for The Reader. The role should undoubtedly be a Best Supporting Actress nomination, as done by every single other award possible. I have no idea what the hell happened here. If she was in this category as Best Supporting, NO QUESTION she would have won, not to mention having a decent chance for Revolutionary Road in Best Actress, but that's a whole other discussion that I will save for later. Oh, and Viola Davis was on screen for a whole big 10 minutes, but her impact on Doubt cannot be underestimated.

Best Supporting Actor:
Who Will Win: HEATH LEDGER
Who Should Win: HEATH LEDGER
Who Got the Shaft: anybody who had the misfortune of being nominated against Heath Ledger.

Is there any question about this, seriously?? I can't believe a certain someone bet me $10 that Ledger would NOT sweep the Globes and Oscars. Please.

Best Music (Song)
Who Will Win: "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire
Who Should Win: "O Saya"
Who Got the Shaft: "The Wrestler" from The Wrestler

What the hell??? I can't believe the Academy didn't nominate Springsteen for his song "The Wrestler." I mean, it won the effin' Globe and now not even a nomination! I don't get it.

Cinematography:
Who Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Who Should Win: The Dark Knight

Art Direction:
Who Will Win: Revolutionary Road
Who Should Win: Revolutionary Road

Costume Design:
Who Will Win: The Duchess
Who Should Win: Revolutionary Road

Did you see that white dress that Kate Winslet wore in the film?? Nothing says 1950s more than that.

Best Actress:
Who Will Win: Kate Winslet for The Reader
Who Should Win: WHO DO YOU THINK????? MERLY STREEP. PERIOD. Nomination #15, you'd think she'd take a breather to let give someone else a chance.
Who Got the Shaft: Kate Winslet for Revolutionary Road and Cate Blanchett for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

As I was saying above, Kate Winslet got nominated for the right film just in the wrong category, and then got screwed out of a double nomination. But it really is her year, and she's due, being now 0-5 in the Oscar wins. If she had been nominated for Revolutionary Road, definitely would have still been a major contender, if not the favorite. And before I forget, I want to give a shout out to Melissa Leo for Frozen River. If she does somehow magically manage to win (which would be the biggest surprise since Marisa Tomei won Best Supporting Actress for My Cousin Vinny), I would be OK with that loss for Meryl. Oh, and screw Anne Hathaway. Angelina shouldn't have even really been nominated, but the Oscars wanted a "Brangelina" moment to boost ratings I suppose.

Best Actor:
Who Will Win: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
Who Should Win: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler
Who Got the Shaft: Leonardo DiCaprio for Revolutionary Road

Revolutionary Road, so completely underrated. Anyways, I know Sean Penn is the favorite right now for Milk, and no putting him down, but I think the Academy will do the right thing and give the Oscar to Mickey. Role of a lifetime. That is all I have to say about his performance. I did see Milk, just didn't have time for a review, and though Penn was good, I just gotta stick with Mickey for this one.

Best Director:
Who Will Win: Danny Boyle for Slumdog
Who Should Win: David Fincher for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Who Got the Shaft: Sam Mendes for Revolutionary Road

Since everyone seems to be jumping on the Slumdog bandwagon, the obvious pick is for Danny Boyle. Although he does do a good job, Fincher's direction of Benjamin Button really elevates the film from mediocrity to greatness.

Best Picture
Who Will Win: Slumdog Millionaire
Who Should Win: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Who Got the Shaft: Revolutionary Road

I guess nowadays if you just promote a film hard enough, you'll start to convince people of its greatness as well (see Crash). If Revolutionary Road had been nominated, I definitely think it should win, but since it is not, I have to go with Benjamin Button as the film that should win, though of course we all know the overrated cliché Slumdog will be the winner.

And that should do it. I now patiently await John's picks.

If Meryl Streep should happen to win on Sunday night, you may want to call the fire department in advance, since I'll be lighting cars on fire in the street in CELEBRATION, à la "classy" Ohio State fans.