Oscar Predictions or How the Race comes to an end!

UPDATED WITH WINNERS IN RED 18/24

Snore. Wake me up when it's over.

Thank god for Hugh Jackman or else I'd ALMOST consider NOT watching the Oscars this Sunday... 

I steer within "consensus" for many of these, but what are predictions if not a place where we have the opportunity to be gutsy and blind in order to be able to "brag" about 'seeing that one coming' the next day? That said, a clean Slumdog sweep would not be unheard of (even if it'd be a travesty to think Slumdog being part of the 9 Oscar club) and the tech categories have never been my thing (and it's sad how I'm actually excited about the Sound Categories - which in my predicted ballot function as a 'here you go Blockbusters!' consolation prize)

The award that would make me giddy with joy: Wall-E taking Original Screenplay (*fingers crossed!* = I am such a geek!)

Best Picture 

Slumdog Millionaire

["It is written" snore...]

Best Director 

Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

[Because "it is written" snore...]

Best Lead Actor

Sean Penn (Milk - A)

[Or do we think Mickey's comeback narrative prevails? I'm not sold.]

Best Lead Actress 

Meryl Streep

Kate Winslet

[Even if I'm rooting for Kate...]

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)

[Sorry for the snub TDK!]

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona )

[Cause she's hot and crazy and directed by Woody!]

Best Original Screenplay

Milk

[Because how can we not vote for the BP nominee in here?]

Best Adapted Screenplay

Slumdog Millionaire

[Because in a field so weak...]

Best Animated Feature Film

WALL•E

[Sorry for the snub!]

Best Art Direction

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[The pretty pictures!]

Best Cinematography

Slumdog Millionaire

[Who knew Mumbai was so colourful?]

Best Costume Design

The Duchess

[Cause corsets = Oscar gold!]

Best Editing

Slumdog Millionaire

[Cause there's lots of it]

Best Original Score

Slumdog Millionaire

[Rahman + M.I.A. = Oscar gold despite brilliant(er) work in the category]

Best Original Song

Down to Earth - Wall-E

Jai-Ho - Slumdog Millionaire

[Rahman and Newman split the Score/Song awards!]

Best Make-Up 

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[Cause how else could they warrant Brad's nomination?]

Best Sound Mixing

WALL•E

Slumdog Millionaire

[Robot noises!]

Best Sound Editing

The Dark Knight

[Not that they usually do this, but I'm splitting the Sound categories]

Best Visual Effects

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

[Cause how else can they warrant Brad's nomination?]

Best Live Action Short Film

Spierlzeugland (Toyland)

[Shooting blind here, people]

Best Animated Short Film

Presto

Maison

[As a 'sorry PIXAR for not nominating Wall-E for Best Picture']

Best Documentary

Man on Wire

[It is written, n'est-ce pas?]

Best Documentary Short

The Conscience of Nhem En

Pinki Smile

[Why not?]

Best Foreign Language Film

The Class

Departures

[If only because as Pan's Labyrinth showed us, there is nothing like a "lock" here, especially when you're dealing with a genre film - and yes, those old geezers at AMPAS do think of animation as a genre, ugh...]