Oscar Predictions, or How The Race Continues

So now that I've seen some of the heavyweight contenders (Milk, Frost/Nixon, Slumdog Millionaire, Rachel Getting Married, Revolutionary Road) I thought I should update my predictions (see my earlier ones here). Bear in mind, they're part predictions/part wishful thinking, which is why I am rallying behind Wall-E but keep some Oscar hopefuls I think are 'locks' by now, why I am rooting for a Kate double dip and yet trying to work with some well-known Oscar rules (rarely does an acting nom come unaccompanied with other noms; usually one Best Pic Pic doesn't translate into a Best Director nom, etc.). Without further ado, here goes:

Best Picture

Frost/Nixon (B)

Wall-E (A+)

Milk (A)

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Slumdog Millionaire (A+)

Wishful thinking: Revolutionary Road

Best Director

Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon - B)

Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight - A+)

Gus Van Sant (Milk - A)

David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire - A+)

Wishful thinking: Andrew Stanton (Wall-E - A+)

Best Lead Actor

Sean Penn (Milk - A)

Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)

Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino)

Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road - A)

Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

Wishful thinking: No Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino)

Best Lead Actress

Meryl Streep (Doubt)

Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road - A)

Melissa Leo (Frozen River)

Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married - A)

Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky - A-)

Wishful thinking: Kristin Scott-Thomas (I've Loved You So long - A+)

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight - A+)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)

Josh Brolin (Milk - A)

Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder)

Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road - A)

Wishful thinking: Emile Hirsch (Milk - A)

Best Supporting Actress

Viola Davis (Doubt)

Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona - A)

Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Kate Winslet (The Reader)

Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Wishful thinking: Kathy Bates (Revolutionary Road - A)

Best Original Screenplay 

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (A)

Milk (A)

Rachel Getting Married (A)

Wall-E (A+)

The Wrestler

Wishful thinking: Burn After Reading (A-)

Best Adapted Screenplay

Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Doubt

Slumdog Millionaire (A+)

The Reader

Revolutionary Road (A)

Wishful thinking: The Dark Knight (A+)