The Oscar Predictions

Bangalore is alive and kicking what with most of the Oscar nominated movies either running in the theatres or atleast available on pirated CDs. Its just a week before D-Day but since I've seen almost all the major movies (except Sideways for which I will go by G's opinion) here are my predictions and preferences for this year's Oscar race.

Best Picture
Prediction: The Aviator
My preference: Million Dollar Baby

Best Director
Prediction: Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby
My preference: Clint Eastwood - Million Dollar Baby

Best Actor
Prediction: Jamie Foxx - Ray
My preference: Jamie Foxx - Ray
(Note: Haven't seen Hotel Rwanda)

Best Actress
Prediction: Hillary Swank in Milion Dollar Baby
My preference: Hillary Swank in Milion Dollar Baby

Best Supporting Actor
Prediction: Morgan Freeman - Million Dollar Baby
My preference: Alan Alda - The Aviator
(Note: G says Thomas Haden Church in Sideways is also rocking)

Best supporting actress
Prediction: Cate Blanchett - The Aviator
My preference: Cate Blanchett - The Aviator

Best adapted screenplay
Prediction: Paul Haggis - Million Dollar Baby
My preference: Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke - Before Sunset

Best original screenplay
Prediction - John Logan - The Aviator
My preference - Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Best animated feature film
Prediction: The Incredibles
My preference: Shrek 2

Best Art Direction
Prediction: The Aviator
My preference: -
(Note: Haven't seen The House of Flying Daggers which is rumored to be awesome)

Best Cinematography
Prediction: The Aviator
My preference: -
(Note: Haven't seen The House of Flying Daggers which is rumored to be awesome)

Best Film Editing
Prediction: The Aviator
My preference: Million Dollar Baby is a shade better than The Aviator

Best Costume Design
Prediction: The Aviator
My preference: Troy

Best original score
Prediction: The Passion of the Christ
My preference: Million Dollar Baby

Best original song
Prediction: Accidentally In Love - Shrek 2
My prediction - Believe - The Polar Express

Best sound editing
Prediction: Spiderman-2
My preference: The Incredibles

Best sound mixing
Prediction: Spiderman-2
My preference: The Incredibles

Best visual effects
Prediction: Spiderman-2
My preference: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

There are a couple of major categories where Ebert and I have differed in our view-points. Any comments by people who have seen most of the above mentioned movies is welcome.