Blake's Think Tank

If you read the Arkansas Democrat Gazette on Friday you some my predictions for the major categories. Over at InContention.com, Kris Tapley’s vibrant Oscar website, are my complete picks.  I’m not expecting anything major although I picked a few upsets in the technical categories. I’ve also picked “The Class” beating “Waltz with Bashir” in the Best Foreign Language category, which would certainly be a surprise.

For some last minute Oscar reading, check out Christopher Orr’s preview piece from The New Republic and David Carr a.k.a. The Bagger of The New York Times‘ predictions. And you can go to The Moviegoer for more coverage. I’ll be on Twitter during the show.

And The Think Tank predicts . . .

Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Actor: Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Original Screenplay: “Milk”
Best Art Direction: “The Dark Knight”
Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Costume Design: “The Duchess”
Best Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Makeup: “The Dark Knight”
Best Music (Original Score): “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Music (Original Song): “WALL-E”
Best Sound Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Sound Mixing: “WALL-E”
Best Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E”
Best Foreign Language Film: “The Class”
Best Short Film (Animated): “Presto”
Best Short Film (Live Action): “Toyland”
Best Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”
Best Documentary Short: “The Conscience of Nhem En”

UPDATE: Complete results at The Moviegoer.  15/24 this year. And Mickey Rourke didn’t win. But Heath Ledger did. Brilliant!