Sean B. Fitzgerald It doesn’t go something like this, it goes exactly like this.

The 81st Academy Awards: The Wager

Okay, I guess I better get started on this blog before my friend slashes my tires. A few weeks ago, Luigi (Yes, that's his name) told me to make a post about my predictions for the Oscars. I was thinking about doing that anyway considering it's a nice way to fill time and make a meaningless post. He told me that he would make his predictions and that I could post mine and his and compare them.

We also made a little wager. Whoever has more correct predictions gets an all expenses paid dinner at a local restaurant called The Greenhouse Cafe. Me and my friends all enjoy that place because you get a ton of food for about $15. Plus the food is delicious. Luigi thinks he has this wager in the bag. I'm pretty sure he's already placed an order at "Greenhouse". That's how confident he is. And by all accounts, he should be. The kid is a movie freak. It's really the only thing he cares about. He spends more time in theatres than he does his own house. And sometimes, he tries telling us stories about something that happened to him, but just ends up explaining the plot of a movie he just saw. So needless to say, he's seen a majority of the movies that are nominated. Me, on the other hand, have seen zero. I love movies, just not enough to constantly shell out $12 to sit in a sticky theatre with some fat guy spilling his Raisinets all over me (No, that's not a euphemism).

So I'm basically going into this thing blind. Luigi clearly has the upper hand. But at the same time, it can be easy to pick winners based on the 500 other award shows that are before the Oscars. And given the fact that I haven't seen any of the movies, I won't have an emotional attachment towards any of them. Luigi, for instance, wants to have filthy, disgusting sex with the movie Milk. So he'll unintentionally sway his picks towards it.

I was a little hesitant about making this post because I really didn't want to go through EVERY category. But given the fact that the perpetually lazy Luigi mustered up the courage to complete an entire list within a few days, I feel obligated to do the same. Here we go.

*We expanded on the more important categories. The smaller ones, we just gave our picks.
**Also, these are Luigi's real responses. I didn't edit them in any way. Except spelling, grammar, punctuation, and overall English. He thinks he's a critic, so bear with him.

Best Picture
Luigi's Pick: Milk

This film is just amazing, and it epitomizes the type of film a best picture winner should be. The film makes you angry and filled with hope at the same time, and it makes you think about how far we have come as a society. The acting is top notch all the way through and each scene is memorable and flooded with emotion. You knew how the film was going to end from the beginning and as the film went on it did not matter. The performances kept you in the seat but the message of hope through determination made it truly compelling to watch.

My Pick: Slumdog Millionaire

Everyone seems to love this film. Barring my sister, I've heard nothing but rave reviews. And I'm pretty sure that it won the Golden Globe for Best Picture. I would check but I'm kind of on a roll here.

Actor in a Leading Role
Luigi's Pick: Mickey Rourke

His performance is so memorable and visceral that I truly felt uplifted, but then filled with anger and later sadness. Every single mannerism is there to move the plot forward and it's just amazing to watch. When I saw him take the box cutter blade and cut his own forehead for the sake of the film, I knew at that moment he had brought everything he had to the character. Even though you know where the climax is going and where it's going to end, you don't ever want to stop watching. The performance is so mesmerizing and full of humanity that you truly feel that you're almost watching a documentary about 'The Ram'. I believe he did an outstanding job, and there is no one more deserving.

My Pick: Frank Langella

Right now, I'm really pissed because I wrote this entire post, published it, and only half showed up. I went back to the previous page, and only half was there. Now I am practically starting all over. Frustrating. It's a long post too. There's like a lot of categories. I don't even remember what I wrote. Anyway, I like Frank Langella because he's from Bayonne, New Jersey. It's a cool town considering you go through hell and back to get there.

Actor in a Supporting Role
Luigi's Pick: Heath Ledger

Well, what can you say about this performance that's not already been said? He is absolutely incredible, and there is no denying it. He showed incredible range that no one knew he had and there was something so maniacal but enjoyable about witnessing the performance that the next scene with The Joker couldn't come soon enough. To me the performance was so great that you completely forget that it's Heath Ledger behind that make up and prosthetic. If no one knew who was portraying The Joker, everyone would continue to not know and with that I believe that Health Ledger deserves the Oscar.

My Pick: Heath Ledger

Man, Luigi took this whole prediction thing seriously huh? That is some spot on analysis up there. I wish I cared that much about movies. I'm too worried about my family, friends, school, and reality in general. To get back to the point, Heath Ledger is a shoo-in for this category.

Actress in a Leading Role
Luigi's Pick: Meryl Streep

Well I have seen none of these films, so I am going on initial performance buzz. From what I hear, Kate Winslet is the front runner for the Oscar. I am going with Meryl Streep because from what I see from the trailers for Doubt it looks like a pretty commanding performance, and from the buzz that the performance is getting along with her recent SAG win it looks like she might get the Oscar.

My Pick: Anne Hathaway

This is my sleeper pick. I think the Academy is sick and tired of awarding Streep. She's got two already. Three would clearly be a crowd. I've heard good things in regards to Hathaway's performance in Rachel Getting Married and I believe she'll be awarded for it. Hopefully the academy hasn't seen Bride Wars yet.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Luigi's Pick: Taraji P. Henson

This performance was just great, it was such a heartfelt performance and I can honestly say she was the best thing about the film. She played Benjamin's mother in the film and was so great that you could believe that as she was aging during the film, she was growing as an actress.

My Pick: Amy Adams

I was going to go with Marisa Tomei because she did nudity. But I decided to go with Amy Adams because I'm hoping that some day she will do nudity. Fingers crossed.

Animated Featured Film
Luigi's Pick: WALL-E

Well WALL-E was just incredible and I haven't seen it since I saw it in theaters, but that doesn't make any difference because each scene is imprinted into my mind forever. It's got great themes and awesome visuals and it made you feel for a robot, it should also have been nominated for best picture.

My Pick: WALL-E

Finally, a movie I actually saw. I always make a point of it to see every Pixar film in the theatres. With the exception of The Incredibles and Cars, Pixar films are just fantastic. And WALL-E is no exception. Luigi is right, it really should have been nominated for Best Picture. But no, watching Winslet and DiCaprio Eskimo-kiss again is considered better than WALL-E.

Art Direction
Luigi's Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Every single scene in this film was art, it was incredible to watch and what's even more amazing is that it was shot in digital and not film. The art direction in this film was incredible, they used over saturated colors to make Benjamin feel trapped in the world and distanced from everyone else. It was magical and they brought the film to life with amazing sets and locations.

My Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

These are the type of categories where I couldn't care less. Art direction? It's just an excuse to give a movie an award so everyone goes home happy. It's like little league these days. Nobody's a loser. When clearly, there are many losers in Hollywood.

Cinematography
Luigi's Pick: The Dark Knight

They did incredible things with the cinematography for this film; the entire film had great lighting. For me the coolest thing was their use of natural lighting for the outdoor shots, along with those amazing IMAX cameras.  They did great things with over exposure and they definitely used gels to get that great blue tint that gave the film a stylistic look.

My Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I really think "Button" is going to be one of those films that receive a lot of awards and accolades, but nobody would consider it in their top 30 favorite films. It reminds me a lot of The English Patient. No one talks about that movie, and it won like 15 Oscars.

Costume Design
Luigi's Pick: The Dutchess
My Pick: Australia

Directing
Luigi's Pick: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
My Pick: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

Documentary
Luigi's Pick: The Betrayal
My Pick: Man on Wire

Documentary Short
Luigi's Pick: The Witness-From the Balcony of Room 306
My Pick: The Witness-From the Balcony of Room 306

Film Editing
Luigi's Pick: Slumdog Millionaire
My Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Foreign Language Film
Luigi's Pick: Waltz with Bashir
My Pick: The Class

Make Up
Luigi's Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My Pick: Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Music (Score)
Luigi's Pick: Slumdog Millionaire
My Pick: WALL-E

Music (Song)
Luigi's Pick: Jai-Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)
My Pick: Jai-Ho (Slumdog Millionaire)

Short Film (Animated)
Luigi's Pick: This Way Up
My Pick: Presto

Sound Editing
Luigi's Pick: WALL-E
My Pick: WALL-E

Visual Effects
Luigi's Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
My Pick: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Luigi's Pick: Slumdog Millionaire
My Pick: Frost/Nixon

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Luigi's Pick: WALL-E
My Pick: Milk