Oscar Night

A brief departure from the world of sports to discuss the 81st Annual Academy Awards tonight. Having lost all faith in the system when WALL-E and The Dark Knight wasn't nominated for best picture (THE MOVE MADE $1 BILLION!!), I am sure that the small foreign film will take home best picture. So, having not seen any of the films nominated for best picture, here are my picks:

Best Picture- Slumdog Millionaire. Why not? People feel uplifted by this movie because they aren't the ones suffering through a poverty-stricken existence in India.

Best Director- Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire. The British exploiting the Indians for success, fame and fortune. Somewhere Gandhi is crying.

Best Actor- Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Haven't seen it. Heard mixed reviews. But with 12 nominations, the movie has to win something. I would love it if Mickey Rourke won for The Wrestler.

Best Actress- Melissa Leo, Frozen River. Never even heard of this movie. But the Academy didn't get the nominations right (Kate Winslet's role in The Reader should have been supporting, and her role in Revolutionary Road should have been up for this award), so why would they give it to the right person now? Again, rooting for Kate, but I'll believe it when I see it.

Best Supporting Actor- Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight. I didn't want them to remake the Joker. I was worried when Heath was cast. Then I saw the movie. Heath was amazing. The greatest villain since Hannibal Lecter and Darth Vader. He was simply perfect in the role. Its a shame he died, or else they could have made 50 more movies with the Joker, and I would have seen every one. It has to be Heath. If it isn't, I am done watching the Oscars.

Best Supporting Actress- Marissa Tomei, The Wrestler. Who says lightening can't strike twice? Wouldn't it be a kick in the head if the most lampooned Oscar winner of all time becomes a two-time recipient? Go Marissa.

Best Animated Movie- WALL-E. Again, if it doesn't win, I am done with the Oscars. It should have gotten a Best Picture nomination also. It should win Best Original Screenplay as well.

One final rant- I am disappointed in Hollywood. For once, three of the top grossing movies of the year were quality films. The Dark Knight, WALL-E and Iron Man were all fantastic and critically acclaimed. It is sad to see such an apparently "progressive" Academy fall back into their old ways and refusing to honor these films the way they should be. In 25 years, when the anniversary editions of these three movies come out, do you really think people will remember Slumdog Millionaire? Didn't think so.