It's ... A ... Wonderful evening for Oscar! Oscar, Oscar! Who will win?

Best Picture
This race is pretty much up for grabs.

My pick is Finding Neverland. If you have not seen this film, I suggest you drop what your doing, hock whatever you need to if you need a baby sitter and go see it.

Sideways has a good shot as its leading actor apparantly got edged out of nominations by Eastwood and it is the surprise of the season.

The Aviator - Grand, sweeping, period epic about Hollywood legend.
Ray - Ray Charles' death has caused a semitmentl sweep of most minds.
Million Dollar Baby - Gritty, "real" tragedy.

The voters like all that. Who knows.

Best Actor
This is a three way race between Johnny Depp in Finding Neverland (SEE IT!), Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator and Jamie Foxx in Ray.

Foxx is the favorite. The whole Ray Charles thing really applies here and he has won most, if not all of the other awards.

DiCaprio won the Golden Globe for drama. Foxx was in the musical/comedy category. Leo really grew up with this film. His protrayal of Howard Hughes might give him the gold.

My pick is Depp. He is nominated for the second year in a row. Last year it was for Jack Sparrow, a comic lead in a summer action comedy. The academy doesn't usually reward that, but following it up with J.M. Barrie might do the trick. Barrie is the type of role that gets rewarded. Depp's portrayl ran the gamut from heart breaking to joy and wonder.

Best Actress
This is a two horse race. Annette Bening and Hilary Swank.

The pundits say Swank for Million Dollar Baby, but I hope not. She has already won for playing a tough gritty role with a tragic story. Boys Don't Cry. Then, she beat out Annette Bening's turn in American Beauty.

Being Julia was a wonder. Bening plays a woman her age with great abandon and no apologies for her age either. Who could forget "I feel twice my age which makes me 90!" And then there are responses like Jeremy Irons. As Bening rants about being a horrible bitch, Irons takes her hand tenderly and says, "Never the less." Please be Annette Bening!

Best Supporting Actor
Who knows!? Church could win for being Giamotti's partner in Sideways. Foxx could win for Colateral as a nod to his Ray work while giving that award to another. Freeman could win for Million Dollar Baby because he was wonderfully understated and he is a multi-nom that has never won.

My bets are on Clive Owen. He has been winning so far, and Larry in Closer is the kind of ranging dramatic role that gets noticed. Don't be surprised if Morgan Freeman slips past though.

Best Supporting Actress
I have heard the least buzz and seen the least films in this category.

Natalie Portman seems to be the front runner, and I hear she is wonderful in Closer.

I wouldn't mind seeing Cate Blanchett win though. She was spot on in The Aviator as Kate Hepburn. A real portrayl. Not once did you feel like it was a caricature or put on. Go Cate!

We shall see tomorrow!