Oscar Predictions

I have something of a love-hate relationship with the Academy Awards.  More often than not, I disagree with their choices, and yet year after year, I'm compulsively intrigued and involved.  The nominations are announced tomorrow, and here's my stab at predicting the top eight categories.

Best Picture:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Frost/Nixon

Milk

Slumdog Millionaire

Alternative:  WALL-E

Best Director:

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

Gus Van Sant, Milk

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Alternative:  Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

Best Actor:

Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon

Sean Penn, Milk

Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Alternative:  Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino

Best Actress:

Angelina Jolie, Changeling

Meryl Streep, Doubt

Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

Alternative:  Melissa Leo, Frozen River

Best Original Screenplay:

Milk

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

The Visitor

WALL-E

The Wrestler

Alternative:  Rachel Getting Married

Best Adapted Screenplay:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The Dark Knight

Doubt

Frost/Nixon

Slumdog Millionaire

Alternative:  The Reader

Best Supporting Actor:

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt

Josh Brolin, Milk

Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder

Alternative:  James Franco, Milk

Best Supporting Actress:

Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Viola Davis, Doubt

Amy Adams, Doubt

Kate Winslet, The Reader

Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Alternative:  Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler