Just another viewer

My Oscar guesses:

Best Picture: "Atonement" is going to win. Why? A World War (not sure which one; I didn't see it), broken hearts, tiny fabulous period hats and an emaciated Keira Knightly.

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis, because he's batshit, plus, you know, he really does have The Talent. Unless the Academy is afraid he'll dedicate his Oscar to Heath Ledger in a continued display of his slightly weird fixation, in which case, they'll throw it to Tommy Lee Jones. Viggo is out of this world, but he played a for'ner and showed his wibble and bits and refused to apologize or blush enough. (Do you get the impression that he's so talented, most directors don't know what to do with him?) And they resent Clooney for getting all the dames, plus he resorts to the eye crinkle, still. Can he act? I'm not being snotty. I wonder, seriously. Can he?

Best Actress: Cate Blanchett, probably. It would be kick ass is they finally noticed Laura Linney, though.

Supporting Actor: It's between Casey Affleck and Javier Bardem, both of whom showed their chops. I'm guessing Bardem. The dark horse here is Holbrook, who has been very good always. But how much screen time did he get?

Supporting Actress: Again with the Cate Blanchett? The woman needs a spa weekend. Amy Ryan was astounding and nuanced and I really think she should get it. They may throw it to Tilda Swinton now that everyone knows she's in a threeway and they want to see if she'll thank both her husband and her lover while standing at the podium with those non eyebrows of hers. She is so unrepentant about it, as if, because they're fine with it, we should be. Like we don't have a vote. She scares them. She scares me.

Original Screenplay: "The Savages" was excellent, but it wasn't political enough for the Academy. Maybe. There was a distinct lack of WWII. "Lars" had the sex doll. They may go for "Michael Clayton," but that would be a nod to Clooney and no one wants that (Them, I mean. I'd nod at Clooney. Oh, yes, I would). I can't decide yet because I haven't seen most of these. I know, but with kids and work and all my charity work (I just snuck that in there), I pretty much just see things on DVD. (One of my most favorite things in the world is an empty theater. When I worked at the movie house, I'd take my breaks in the back of, oh, almost anything. Sitting with only three other people, no one munching popcorn at the back of my neck or texting or - DEARLORD - talking? A rainy Monday afternoon with a hot cup of coffee and rain outside is the best time to see a movie. You can even enjoy a Jane Fonda comedy in those conditions. Really. Okay, almost.)

Again, I was too busy mixing salve for the injured and feeding doves with my bare hands and watching "Rock of Love 2" to catch almost any of these. I'm gonna see how many I can view in the next 48 hours, with snack breaks. And I almost never choose a Best Director, because I wanted to be one, for a bit, and I always pick Best Screenplay, because I've written crap ones. I'm fickle like that.

I really enjoy the Oscars, at least bits of it. It's one of the few horse races I understand. I'm attending a get-together at a friend's house and she's very kind to invite me. Most people lock film school grads on the porch at these things. We talk about lighting and motifs and ohmygod, shut her up already. Someone, shove a canape in her mouth!

What do you think? What did you like? What stood out? Do you even care?