Inspired by Eden, I joined her group at Oscar.com and made my own predictions. Rand helped. Here they are:

Best Picture     THE DEPARTED
Actor in a Leading Role     Forest Whitaker|THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND
Actor in a Supporting Role     Eddie Murphy|DREAMGIRLS
Actress in a Leading Role     Helen Mirren|THE QUEEN
Actress in a Supporting Role     Jennifer Hudson|DREAMGIRLS
Animated Feature Film     HAPPY FEET
Art Direction     PAN´S LABYRINTH
Cinematography     CHILDREN OF MEN
Costume Design     DREAMGIRLS
Directing     THE DEPARTED
Documentary Feature     AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
Documentary Short Subject     THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT
Film Editing     THE DEPARTED
Foreign Language Film     PAN´S LABYRINTH
Makeup     PAN´S LABYRINTH
Music (Original Score)     BABEL
Music (Original Song)     “Love You I Do” – DREAMGIRLS
Short Film (Animated)     MAESTRO
Short Film (Live Action)     THE SAVIOUR
Sound Editing     APOCALYPTO
Sound Mixing     APOCALYPTO
Visual Effects     PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN´S CHEST
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)     CHILDREN OF MEN
Writing (Original Screenplay)     LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

Of the nominated films, I’ve seen The Departed, Little Miss Sunshine, Children of Men, An Inconvenient Truth, Cars, and Borat. I think I’d still like to see Babel, Pan’s Labyrinth, Jesus Camp, and maybe a couple of others.

I really, really think Scorsese’s due. Of course, I thought that last time…but I think The Departed is a better film than The Aviator was. I wanted to vote for Mark Wahlberg for supporting actor, but I just don’t think he’ll actually win. His performance was great. I did my best to make real predictions, but I guessed on all the short films and the music/sound categories.

My biggest WTF? of this Oscar season has got to be Notes on a Scandal. I don’t get it. I saw the trailer and thought it looked absolutely dreadful. I asked what Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett were doing in this movie. Here’s a bit of a chat I had w/Eden on the subject:

Eden: well it’s probably in watching the interaction

Eden: a pedophile teacher versus a psychotic lesbian?

LOL

me: bwah

well, that screams “Oscar” to me!

Wanna join in the fun? Here’s the info on Eden’s group:

Stephanie (that’s me) has invited you to play the Predict the Oscar Winners Sweepstakes at OSCAR.com.You and a guest could be headed to Hollywood for an all-expensepaid weekend and watch as your favorite stars arrive at next year’sAcademy Awards! Seated in the bleacher seats in the Red Carpet arrival
area, you will be able to watch as the stars strut for the cameras and
the fans!

Log on to OSCAR.com, make your predictions, then join your group
using the information below:

URL: http://predict.oscar.go.com/predict/frontpage
Group Name: Piggyhawk
Group Password: joaquin

Then tune in Sunday February 25, 2007 at 5PM PT/8PM ET to see if your predictions come true!