You didn't ask for it but you're going to get it. The inescapable, federally required, Blogger.Com mandated Oscar prediction entry.

Oscar Nominations 2009

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" - I liked it better when it was called Forest Gump and I didn't like Forest Gump

"Frost/Nixon" (Universal) - Cliff Notes of history. The average movie goer doesn't know who David Frost is and knows only that Nixon was a president from the old fashioned days. It was a play, it's still a play.

"Milk" (Focus Features) - I worked with Mosconi's son,

"The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) - Nazis, but girl Nazis. No Spielberg no statue.

"Slumdog Millionaire" (Fox Searchlight) - Bingo!

"Slumdog Millionare".  I'm expecting it.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor" (Overture Films) - Who? If this was best supporting actress and he was a chick he would have it made. It's not and he isn't. Sorry dude.

Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon" (Universal) - Old fashioned president guy.

Sean Penn in "Milk" (Focus Features) - Again, I worked with Mosconis' son.

Brad Pitt in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) - Nah. It wasn't acting it was CGI and make-up. And Tom Hanks all ready won for this part.

Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight) - He gets points for his little dog dieing.

Winner - Sean Penn

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Josh Brolin in "Milk" (Focus Features) - Has he done enough? He could play the ingenue card and get it for doing a good job so soon, but ... Prop 8 may make homophobes not real popular among the voters.

Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder" (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount) - Hey! I saw this one! I liked him he was good.

Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" (Miramax) - He's always good but he did just win... he may have to keep his seat.

Heath Ledger in "The Dark Knight" (Warner Bros.) - He was good when he was alive. I would hate to see them waste an statue on a guy whose career isn't going to be helped by the win. The voters are old enough they may not have caught the love.

Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage) - Who?

Robert Downey,  because comedy is really damn hard.

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married" (Sony Pictures Classics) - Yeah. Nope. I would be shocked and she wouldn't be deserving. She has years to do a lot at this level of achievement before she's really in the running.

Angelina Jolie in "Changeling" (Universal)  I'm still mad she got it for Girl Interrupted

Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" (Sony Pictures Classics) - Wouldn't it be cool? It would be, but it's not going to happen. Meryle Streep is also in the field.

Meryl Streep in "Doubt" (Miramax) - A great performance for a normal actress but this is Meryl Streep.

Kate Winslet in "The Reader" (The Weinstein Company) - Probably, but she plays a Nazi we're supposed to be sypathetic to and we hate that.

Kate Winslet because she's won all the other contests thus far. But still,  the no Speilberg problem is an issue with a Nazi movie.


Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in "Doubt" (Miramax) - She's young, she's pretty, she dressed as a Nun.

Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (The Weinstein Company) - This is an ingenue award and she isn't.

Viola Davis in "Doubt" (Miramax) - She's very good, hasn't done anything else and is youngish. Almost a shoo in.

Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" (Paramount and Warner Bros.) - BB wasn't important enough of a film, Pitt isn't going to win and neither is she.

Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (Fox Searchlight) - Too old for the ingenue win. Rourke might pull it out just because of the shock that he isn't dead somewhere but Tomai all ready has an Oscar.

Viola Davis, small part, not on screen long but made an impression. The ingredients that make up a Best Supporting Actress winner.