Way to snub The Dark Knight Hollywood. Way to snub America.

Seriously, how far removed from society do you have to be to make The Curious Case of Benjamin Button the leading contender at the Oscars? It was good, but nothing great. In twenty years no ones going to be talking about it the way we'll be talking about The Dark Knight. Why can't the Academy take into consideration the rest of America? Or take a step back and acknowledge just how historical The Dark Knight is going to be. 2008 will be known as the year Batman wasn't nominated in the Oscars.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it deserves to win Best Picture (or Best Director), but it definitely deserves to be nominated. I mean what is there but hope? At least let us hope it could win.

I guess the other side of the coin is that The Dark Knight doesn't need any more recognition, but that's not the point. It deserves it.

Probably the only thing I can be happy about is that Heath Ledger was nominated (one year to the day after his death no less), and boy does he deserve it. I couldpost a whole blog just about that...

And what about The Wrestler? I mean come on. It fits the bill! It's kinda slow and had next to no budget! It deserves a few nominations, best director and cinematography at least. That film was phenomenal, if you haven't seen any of the Oscar movies yet, don't. Go watch The Wrestler instead. Man I hope Mickey Rourke wins best actor though.

I think the Academy needs to look past their own noses and start listening to the people that are actually watching these movies. I know it's not a democracy but they should at least consider it. The Dark Knight made more money than these other films will ever make combined. Why? Because people who saw it liked it. And a lot of them saw it again and again.

I watch a lot (a lot a lot) of movies, and even I haven't seen all the movies up for Best Picture. What does that even mean? How many people have even heard of The Reader? Or Milk? Or The Wrestler for that matter? I had to download it just to see it. At least if the Dark Knight was nominated for best picture more people would watch the Oscars.

Mark my words, if Benjamin Button wins Best Picture I'm never watching the Oscars again. I won't have to. I'll already know how shitty it'll be.

But as it stands my money's on Slumdog Millionaire. A close second to TDK and the Wrestler.

Okay, enough ranting, here's my picks:

Best Picture:
Slumdog Millionaire (I would love to see this underdog film win just to prove budget doesn't mean squat when it comes to what makes a movie great)

Best Director:
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Actor:
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler (Holy shit, you need to see his performance. I thought Sean Penn was great in Milk but wow was I wrong)

Best Actress:
Angelina Jolie - The Changeling (Performance of a lifetime)

Best Supporting Actor:
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight (He's earned this tenfold, the others don't even compare)

Best Supporting Actress:
Either Amy Adams - Doubt
or Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler (just cause I'd love to see a stripper get an Oscar lol)

Best Original Screenplay:
Milk

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Cinematography:
The Dark Knight

Best Editing:
Either The Dark Knight or Milk

Best Art Direction:
The Dark Knight

Best Costume Design:
Australia (Why not?)

Best Makeup:
Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Okay okay, it deserves this one)

Best Original Score:
Wall-E or Benjamin Button (I guess)

Best Original Song:
Wall-E - "Down to Earth"

Best Sound Editing:
The Dark Knight ( I guess)

Best Visual Effects:
Curious Case of Benjamin Button (The aging of the characters was the best part of this movie, and that's saying something)

Best Animated Film:
Wall-E (Hands Down)

Best Documentary:
Man on Wire