Here are my predictions.

BEST ACTOR
Bill Murray, Lost in Translation

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tim Robbins, Mystic River

BEST ACTRESS
Charlize Theron, Monster

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Shohreh Aghdashloo, House of Sand and Fog

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Finding Nemo

BEST ART DIRECTION
Master and Commander

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Girl with a Pearl Earring

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
The Last Samurai

BEST DIRECTOR
Peter Jackson, The Return of the King

BEST EDITING
Return of the King

BEST MAKEUP
Return of the King

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE
Return of the King

BEST SONG
"Belleville Rendez-vous," The Triplets of Belleville

BEST SOUND EDITING
Master and Commander

BEST SOUND MIXING
Return of the King

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Return of the King

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Mystic River

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Lost in Translation

BEST PICTURE
Lost in Translation

The Oscars (and the Emmys and ...) are nothing but the industry people stroking themselves. Why do *we* get into such a tizzy about them?

Because they're fun!! Well the oscars are in any case - staying up all night (as we poor folk in Ireland and the UK must do) just adds to the charm.

I agree with most of your predictions Mike, although I do think that the hype machine might be right this year and the best picture oscar might actually go to the Return of the King. One can only hope that this doesn't turn LOTR into this decade's Titanic - being adored at first, making gizillions of dollars, winning a s***load of oscars and then being universally derided. Of course, the critical point here is that LOTR is actually a quality film - but please, Peter Jackson, spare us the "I'm the king of middle-earth" speech!

Apart from that, I would love to see Johnny Depp win for best actor - but it seems very unlikely.

I only watch for the cleavage.

Hey, at least I'm honest!

Thank you ScottN... I'm not alone! Woo hoo! (OK, maybe you don't really want me for company...)

Apart from that, I would love to see Johnny Depp win for best actor - but it seems very unlikely. - Sandy

Except he won the SAG award in a major upset.

But I'm predicting Bill Murray in that category. In fact, I agree with most of MikeC's predictions for the major six Oscars, except for Best Picture, which I think will go to LOTR.

I flipflop on my prediction on Art Direction and Cinematography. (Girl for Art Direction, M & C for Cinematography). I also don't think LOTR is a lock for a lot of the technical awards...

My predictions are as follows:

PICTURE
The Return of the King

DIRECTOR
Peter Jackson - The Return of the King

ACTOR
Bill Murray - Lost in Translation

ACTRESS
Charlize Theron - Monster

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Tim Robbins - Mystic River

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Shoreh Aghdashloo - House of Sand and Fog

ANIMATED FEATURE
Finding Nemo

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Lost in Translation (though Finding Nemo should win)

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Mystic River (haven't seen the movie, but it's a great book)

ART DIRECTION
Girl With A Pearl Earring

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Master and Commander

COSTUME DESIGN
The Last Samurai

FILM EDITING
City of God

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
The Barbarian Invasions

MAKEUP
Pirates of the Caribbean

ORIGINAL SCOR
Finding Nemo

SOUND EDITING
Pirates of the Caribbean

SOUND MIXING
The Return of the King

VISUAL EFFECTS
Pirates of the Caribbean
Then again, last year I was adamant that Roman Polanski could not win, so what do I know?

Yay! LOTR sweeps the board! Billy Crystal rocks.

Loved the opening, especially the Michael Moore bit.