An Oscar Blog Post... Yeah Yeah, I Know

I used to make it a rule to see all of the Best Picture nominees before the Oscar telecast.  This year, I am 3 for 5 (sorry Frost/Nixon and The Reader).  So take my Oscar predictions below with the finest grain of salt...

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Best Actress: Kate Winslett, Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, Dark Knight

Best Supporting Actress: Taraji P. Henson, Benjamin Button

Best Director: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Original Screenplay: Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography: Slumdog Millionaire

Best Editing: Dark Knight

Best Art Direction: Benjamin Button

Best Costume Design: Duchess

Best Make-Up: Benjamin Button

Best Original Score: Wall-E

Best Song: "Jai Ho", Slumdog Millionaire

Best Sound: Wall-E

Best Sound Editing: Dark Knight

Best Visual Effects: Benjamin Button

Best Animated Film: Wall-E

Best Foreign Film: Waltz With Bashir

Best Documentary: Man On Wire

Best Documentary Short: The Witness from the Balcony of Room 306

Best Animated Short: Presto

Best Live Action Short: Spieleugland

I feel entirely unsure about 85% of my picks, but it is not like anyone really has any idea.  There will always be some sort of unexpected win (or at least I hope so -- Hugh Jackman can only make the show as un-boring as one man can do).  

Of course, there is a very easy way to make the Oscars un-boring.  Drinking game!  If you want to play along, here are possible rules: 

Every time music plays during an acceptance speech: 1 drink

If the winner keeps talking, and they cut to a super-wide shot so they can shoo the winner(s) off stage: 2 drinks

If the person tells the orchestra to stop playing over their speech: 3 drinks, cause that shit is just rude.  

If a winner thanks the Academy: 1 drink

If a winner thanks God: 2 drinks

If a winner thanks God, but not the Academy: 3 drinks, cause that shit is just rude, too.  

If someone mentions anything vaguely political: 1 drink

If someone mentions something vaguely political, and they cut to a reaction shot of an African-American, because somehow it's related (did you know we have a Black president now???): 2 drinks

If someone happens to mention something pro-gay marriage: toast them, and have 3 drinks.  

Of, if you just want to get totally blitzed, start drinking once a winner is announced, and do not stop until they reach the mic.  You will not make it through the awards for the short films without slipping into a coma.  Seriously, they may as well stick those people on the Mezzanine and just throw their Oscars up to them once they win.