Oscar PrepicktionsorWhen the World Is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around

I sure don't feel like I know much these days, but, as the title vaguely alludes, write what you know.

I have five dollars and some change to my name, an expired temporary car tage begging to get impounded, a storage unit on the brink of public sale, a car payment, rent and utility bills lurking, several listings on craigslist trying to sell a few things for some operating capital to stem the tide, an interview tommorow with an employment agency that sounded much less than enthusiastic when scheduling the same.

And so, I eagerly await the Oscar nominations in the morning, approximately 7:30 a.m. CST. Here are a few hopeful prognostications based on nothing but my gut and my vision of quality entertainment (or in some cases, what I expect to be):

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
I enjoyed the hell out of this, I've never read the short story it's based on, but it felt like a Dickens novel if he'd ever really been happy

Doubt
still haven't seen it, but I expect this will make the voters feel daring to nominate it

Gran Torino
again, haven't seen it yet, but based on a couple of personal recommendations, it may well be Clint's best work ever. We'll see

Wall*E
absolutely beautiful across the spectrum. Like 2001, the portions without dialogue are the most amazing parts.

The Dark Knight
this goes far beyond the morbidity surrounding Heath Ledger. For me, this broke so many molds and rules and delivered on every single risk it took. Finally, a movie that deserved to make half a billion dollars finally did.

In Bruges
this is almost as dark horse as it gets, unless you're a superhero movie or an animated picture, but it is fan-fucking-tastic! Watch it as soon as you can.

Instead of any of my last three listed taking up the last two spots, Frost/Nixon and Revolutionary Road will probably make the cut. Big time surprise if Milk gets nominated, but it should. Slumdog Millionaire will get other noms, but not best picture, the Academy will feel SM has already gotten the due it needed at the Golden Globes and the otehr regional and indie awards.

I won't be as long-winded on the rest.

Best Actor

Brad Pitt The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sean Penn Milk
Benecio del Toro Che'
Frank Langella Frost/Nixon
Clint Eastwood Gran Torino

*Dark horses-Mickey Rourke The Wrestler and Colin Farrel In Bruges

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway Rachel's Getting Married
Meryl Streep Doubt
Emma Thompson Last Chance Harvey
Kate Winslet Revolutionary Road
Kate Blanchett The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

*Dark horse-Sally HawkinsHappy-Go-Lucky

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger The Dark Knight
Robert Downey, Jr. Tropic Thunder
Ralph Fiennes In BrugesnotThe Duchess
Phillip Seymour Hoffman Doubt
Jeff Bridges Iron Man

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams Doubt
Penelope Cruz Vicky Christina Barcelona
Marisa Tomei The Wrestler
...aw, who're we kidding? who cares?

Best Director

David Fincher The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Danny Boyle Slumdog Millionaire
Christopher Nolan The Dark Knight
Clint Eastwood Gran Torino
Sam Mendes Revolutionary Road

*Off-White Horse-Ron Howard Frost/Nixon
*Gray Horse-John Patrick Shanley Doubt
*Dark Horse-Woody Allen Vicky Christina Barcelona
*Pitch Black Horse-Martin McDonagh In Bruges