Qt3 Official Unofficial 2009 Oscar Pool

Movies
1

Welcome to the first (to my knowledge) official unofficial Qt3 2009 Oscar pool!

I’m starting a thread for Qt3ers to post who they think will win in each respective Academy Award category. After the winners are announced, I will tally the scores and announce the winner of the pool.

The scoring will be as follows:

  1. If you make the correct choice in the following categories: Performance by an actor in a leading role, Performance by an actress in a leading role, Achievement in directing, Best motion picture of the year, you will receive FIVE points for each winning pick.

  2. If you make the correct choice for the following categories: Performance by an actor in a supporting role, Performance by an actress in a supporting role, Best animated feature film of the year, Best documentary feature, you will receive FOUR points for each winning pick.

  3. If you make the correct choice in any of the other categories, you will receive THREE points for each winning pick.

The only rules are:

  1. Post your pool picks by February 21 at the latest.
  2. You may edit your submitted list any time except after midnight GMT on February 21.
  3. There are no post count rules since, well, we’re really betting on what we think snotty Hollywood types will pick. What they pick will ultimately decide the winner of this pool, not trolling for a certain movie, so it doesn’t matter if you’re a newcomer to the forums.

Please post your picks in the following format for my easy perusal (you can quote my next post with the list of nominees, copy and paste it in your own post’s field, then delete as appropriate to speed it up):

Category: (in bold)
Your pick for winner in that category.

Please post your picks in the same order as the list of nominees below.

The next post will have the full list of the nominees to help with logistics! So please refrain from posting until I have the list up.

2

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Richard Jenkins in “The Visitor” (Overture Films)
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Josh Brolin in “Milk” (Focus Features)
Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)
Michael Shannon in “Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)
Melissa Leo in “Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics)
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” (The Weinstein Company)
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
“Bolt” (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
“Kung Fu Panda” (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“Changeling” (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami, Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin, Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
“Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Art Direction: Kristi Zea, Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Achievement in cinematography
“Changeling” (Universal), Tom Stern
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor
“Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Glicker
“Revolutionary Road” (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Albert Wolsky

Achievement in directing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)” (Cinema Guild), A Pandinlao Films Production, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
“Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
“The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn
“Trouble the Water” (Zeitgeist Films), An Elsewhere Films Production, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best documentary short subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki
“The Final Inch” A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant
“Smile Pinki” A Principe Production, Megan Mylan
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
“Milk” (Focus Features), Elliot Graham
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“The Baader Meinhof Complex” A Constantin Film Production, Germany
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France
“Departures” (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan
“Revanche” (Janus Films), A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production, Austria
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat
“Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard
“Milk” (Focus Features), Danny Elfman
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
“Milk” (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Nominees to be determined
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato
“Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
“Oktapodi” (Talantis Films), A Gobelins, L’école de l’image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
“This Way Up” A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film
“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi
“Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont
“New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie
“The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh
“Spielzeugland (Toyland)” A Mephisto Film Production, Jochen Alexander Freydank

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Tom Sayers
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
“Wanted” (Universal), Wylie Stateman

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke and Resul Pookutty
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
“Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
“Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
“Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
“Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Good luck ladies and gents!

3

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Brad Pitt in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Angelina Jolie in “Changeling” (Universal)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West

Achievement in directing
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard

Best documentary feature
“The Garden” A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy

Best documentary short subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki

Achievement in film editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers

Best animated short film
“La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato

Best live action short film
“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi

Achievement in sound editing
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin

Adapted screenplay
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Man, they REALLY liked Benjamin Button and Frost/Nixon… can’t believe Dark Knight didn’t get a Best Motion Picture nomination.

4


Performance by an actor in a leading role
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor

Achievement in directing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
I have no idea here.

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland

Best live action short film
No clue.

Achievement in sound editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Tom Sayers

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.),

Original screenplay
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

I’ll probably change my mind on a lot of these.

5

Well, lets try this…

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin

Achievement in directing
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard

Best documentary feature
“Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser

Best documentary short subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers

Best animated short film
“Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit

Best live action short film
“Auf der Strecke (On the Line)” (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi

Achievement in sound editing
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes

Achievement in sound mixing
“Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin n

Adapted screenplay
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare

Original screenplay
“Frozen River” (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt

6

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin

Achievement in directing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

Best foreign language film of the year
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“Lavatory - Lovestory” A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit

Best live action short film
“New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt

Achievement in visual effects
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Troy

7

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor

Achievement in directing
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“Smile Pinki” A Principe Production, Megan Mylan

Achievement in film editing
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley

Best foreign language film of the year
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“The Reader” (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Nominees to be determined

Best animated short film
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland

Best live action short film
“New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“Wanted” (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan

Original screenplay
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh

8

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West

Achievement in directing
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Ron Howard

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers

Best animated short film
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland

Best live action short film
“The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“Doubt” (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley

Original screenplay
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh

9

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Frank Langella in “Frost/Nixon” (Universal)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Kate Winslet in “The Reader” (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Marisa Tomei in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“The Duchess” (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O’Connor

Achievement in directing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki

Achievement in film editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O’Sullivan

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland

Best live action short film
“The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh

Achievement in sound editing
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood

Achievement in sound mixing
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt

Achievement in visual effects
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Adapted screenplay
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan

Original screenplay
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh

Most of these are pure guesses.

10

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Sean Penn in “Milk” (Focus Features)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West

Achievement in directing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“The Class” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Down to Earth” from “WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“This Way Up” A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film
“The Pig” An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorte Høgh

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
“Milk” (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black

11

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Viola Davis in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley, Set Decoration: Peter Lando

Achievement in cinematography
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in costume design
“Australia” (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin

Achievement in directing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306” A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in film editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“O Saya” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“La Maison en Petits Cubes” A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Kato

Best live action short film
“Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont

Achievement in sound editing
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood

Achievement in sound mixing
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“Frost/Nixon” (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan

Original screenplay
“Happy-Go-Lucky” (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh

12

This is more picks along the lines that I think should win the awards, but mostly I am going to be wrong. If I picked Benjamin Button for everything I would probably do better. (I ended up picking Benjamin Button for all of my toss-up picks)

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Anne Hathaway in “Rachel Getting Married” (Sony Pictures Classics)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Amy Adams in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister

Achievement in costume design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West

Achievement in directing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher

Best documentary feature
“Encounters at the End of the World” (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser

Best documentary short subject
“The Conscience of Nhem En” A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki

Achievement in film editing
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“This Way Up” A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best live action short film
“Manon on the Asphalt” (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont

Achievement in sound editing
“Iron Man” (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin

Adapted screenplay
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord

Original screenplay
“In Bruges” (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonaugh

13

Just a reminder that tomorrow is the last day for submissions, so hurry and make your pool picks!

14

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Mickey Rourke in “The Wrestler” (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.)

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Meryl Streep in “Doubt” (Miramax)

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Taraji P. Henson in “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.)

Best animated feature film of the year
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in art direction
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt, Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo

Achievement in cinematography
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda

Achievement in costume design
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West

Achievement in directing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Best documentary feature
“Man on Wire” (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn

Best documentary short subject
“The Final Inch” A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant

Achievement in film editing
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best foreign language film of the year
“Waltz with Bashir” (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in makeup
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
“Defiance” (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
“Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar

Best motion picture of the year
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Best animated short film
“Presto” (Walt Disney), A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland

Best live action short film
“New Boy” (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie

Achievement in sound editing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Richard King

Achievement in sound mixing
“The Dark Knight” (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick

Achievement in visual effects
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron

Adapted screenplay
“Slumdog Millionaire” (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Original screenplay
“WALL-E” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

15

Hey folks. Sorry for my long absence - I explained the reasons in the Movie Club thread. I’ll make sure I post the winners of the pool today, and apologies for the delay.

Cheers,
Kareem

16

The final tally:

Jeremy Johnsen: 46
Mchankwilliams: 44
Sluggo: 43
Omniscia: 42
Alexlitel: 40
Gremlinclr: 38
Troy S Goodfellow: 30
Equis: 27
Jon Danger: 25
Demon G Sides: 17
Wolfbane: 16

I’m sure I made mistakes despite double checking the scores. So please check your score, especially if you’re within throwing distance of the top spot.

Some comments:

  1. Everyone got the prediction for best animated feature correct. Someone needs to step up and challenge Pixar.
  2. I believe everyone also got the Heath Ledger pick correct.
  3. A lot of folks lost a significant number of points for what I believe (IMHO) are picks based on what they hoped would win instead of what had a more realistic chance. This is particularly evident in the best song and best score categories, where a large number of the posters picked the Wall-E entries, or the cinematography and visual effects categories, where quite a few picked either the Dark Knight or Ironman. Perhaps another example, though I’m not sure if it’s because it was the only pick anyone watched or because it’s what people were rooting for, is Presto in the short animated features category.
  4. Quite a few didn’t correctly predict the best actor/actress categories. I wonder what the reason for this is.
  5. I believe no one picked the correct best live action short film.