tracey picks the oscars

Bear in mind, I am far behind on my Oscar movie viewing, but that doesn’t seem to be stopping me from making predictions based on nearly nothing. Well, not entirely nothing, peeps. Feelings and gut reaction are worth tons, I’m sure.

** for predicted winner. !! for desired winner — for reasons having mostly nothing to do with the movie involved. Because I’m, again, a little behind on my viewing and I don’t see myself being caught up in the next 20 minutes. (Have I mentioned lately that I’m opening a !#$$$&?!@??!! coffeehouse??)

All righty …. PRRRO-ceed:

Best Actor:

Leonardo DiCaprio in “Blood Diamond”
Ryan Gosling in “Half Nelson”
!! Peter O’Toole in “Venus” (The man deserves an Oscar already. He’s been nominated 8 times! How ’bout “Lawrence of Arabia” from 45 damn years ago? Or “Lion in Winter” from 39 years ago? Or “My Favorite Year” from 25 years ago? Just to name a few. Sheesh. I’m sorry. I just love Peter O’Toole.)
Will Smith in “The Pursuit of Happyness”
** Forest Whitaker in “The Last King of Scotland”

Best Actress:

Penélope Cruz in “Volver”
Judi Dench in “Notes on a Scandal”
**!! Helen Mirren in “The Queen” I heart Helen Mirren
Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada”
Kate Winslet in “Little Children” (but I also heart Kate Winslet. I have no doubt she’ll win someday)

Supporting Actor:

!! Alan Arkin in “Little Miss Sunshine”
Jackie Earle Haley in “Little Children”
Djimon Hounsou in “Blood Diamond”
** Eddie Murphy in “Dreamgirls” Boo. Hoo.
Mark Wahlberg in “The Departed”

Best Supporting Actress:

Adriana Barraza in “Babel”
!! Cate Blanchett in “Notes on a Scandal” (She is so so good, but she just won a few years ago, so …)
Abigail Breslin in “Little Miss Sunshine”
** Jennifer Hudson in “Dreamgirls” (She was great — amazing, really — but I almost think winning now will do her in. Too much, too soon. And how would she do in a role with no singing? I’m just sayin’ is all.)
Rinko Kikuchi in “Babel”

Best Director:

“Babel” Alejandro González Iñárritu
** !! “The Departed” Martin Scorsese (Finally … I think it’s Scorsese’s year)
“Letters from Iwo Jima” Clint Eastwood
“The Queen” Stephen Frears
“United 93” Paul Greengrass

Best Picture:

** “Babel” (Politics, I think here. I haven’t actually seen it, so it’s totally a gut reaction. I think the politics of the movie will be rewarded. I mean, I think people will want to vote for what they think is an “important” movie, as opposed to say, “Little Miss Sunshine.” ‘Tho I think it would be a kick if that won.)
!! “The Departed”
“Letters from Iwo Jima”
“Little Miss Sunshine”
“The Queen”

TA DAAA! Or really, TA DUHHH!