2008 Oscar Picks

No money will be changing hands. This year is simply too easy. Not like last year when I couldn't pick Best Picture for the life of me. The only categories I don't feel really confident about this time around are Best Documentary and Adapted Screenplay. And really? Nobody cares about those categories except the nominees. No Country for Old Men seems a shoe-in for Adapted Screenplay, but I feel like the Academy will want to show Atonement some love somewhere. And I have to sort of disagree with Ebert again.

"My heart cries out "Juno! Juno! Juno!," but my brain dashes a pail of cold water and sternly corrects me: "No Country for Old Men." To be sure, "There Will Be Blood" cleaned up a lot of the year-end critics' prizes, but is a little too dark and odd for the academy. "Atonement" and "Michael Clayton" are excellent, but don't have the buzz. Dark horse: "Juno," because the Academy may go for an upbeat audience pleaser. Besides, according to me, it really is the best film of the year. "

Juno will not be winning Best Picture. They're this year's Little Miss Sunshine. Universally beloved, but too feel good for the Academy's highest honor.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Julie Christie, Away from Her

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Ruby Dee, American Gangster

Best animated feature film of the year
Ratatouille

Achievement in cinematography
There Will Be Blood

Achievement in costume design
Sweeney Todd

Achievement in directing
Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Best documentary feature
Taxi to the Dark Side

Adapted screenplay
Christopher Hampton, Atonement

Original screenplay
Diablo Cody, Juno

Best motion picture of the year
No Country for Old Men