My Oscar Allegiance

This is not a prediction post. It's simply some observations I have on this Oscar race that seems to get longer every year. I'm so weary of this year's telecast. Quoting Peter Knegt, the decision made by producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic "all feels really desperate." There's entirely too much change and saying you want to make it feel more like "reality television" doesn't exactly give the Oscar audience the vote of confidence.

Sure, maybe it's the skeptic in me but hiring featuring 'So You Think You Can Dance' dancers while scrapping the opportunity to have both Jeff Bridges AND Marion Cotillard perform showstopping numbers? C'mon! You might as well announce you're getting Taylor Launter, Zac Efron and Kristen Stewart to present... oh wait. Yes, I have very low expectations for this year's kudosfest especially after last year's stellar Bill Condon-produced presentation. Unless Shankman and Mechanic has something truly inspiring up their sleeves, this could easily be the worst produced Oscars I'll ever witness.

On the awards front, the 11th hour "controversy" regarding 'The Hurt Locker' producer Nicholas Chartier sends a mass email out to Academy voters asking them to vote for his film and "not a $500M film." He later apologized for his violation, but of course, publicists across Hollywood for the other nine Oscar-nominated films are jumping on this like a fat kid on cheesecake. The course of this is still brewing despite the ridiculousness of it. Smear, smear, smear... It only solidifies my support for 'The Hurt Locker' taking the grand prize next Sunday even though I ranked 'An Education' higher on my list.

So here we are, getting down to who I'm routing for. It's different than my predictions even if it seems like it's not. I'll save those for when I get to Florida next weekend and am ready to pencil in my ballot next to the 2-liter of '7-Up' for 'Up'. But for now, it's just who I want to see win.

Best Picture: 'The Hurt Locker'

Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow, 'The Hurt Locker'

Best Actor: Jeremy Renner, 'The Hurt Locker', though a Colin Firth win would rock as well.

Best Actress: Carey Mulligan, my future wife.

Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz, 'Inglourious Basterds'

Best Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique, 'Precious'

Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal, 'The Hurt Locker'

Best Adapted Screenplay: Nick Hornby, 'An Education'

Best Foreign Language Film: 'The White Ribbon'

And some, but not all technicals:

Best Cinematography: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince'

Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino, 'Up'

Best Original Song: 'Almost There', 'The Princess and the Frog'

Best Costume Design: Anyone but 'The Young Victoria'