My Oscar Picks 2011

ooohhhh yeahhhhhh

My post reviewing Black Swan has had 5,392 Pageviews. Which easily makes it the most popular post on my blog. (I think the second most popular has around one-tenth the number of views, and only because it was about Mad Men).

So I'm guessing after tomorrow night my blog viewership will go way down. Bummer.

Anyway, I am by no means an expert, but here are my Oscar picks, in preparation for my brother & sister-in-law's party tomorrow night. 

Have you heard? It's supposed to snow. A lot.

That would be The Sailor shoveling.

It does that sometimes you know. Snow. It's winter. And we're in Chicago. Sometimes it snows here between the months of October and ... May.

I could look out my window and watch the snowfall right now ... but why do that when we have a web cam aimed at the driveway??? I never need to look out the windows again. It's almost like when you're on a cruise and you have an interior room, so you tune to the channel that's tuned in to the camera on the Lido Deck and watch the sun set on your in-cabin TV. Before you drift off for your pre-dinner nap. (Hey. I can nap on a cruise if I want to. It was my vacation.)

But let's not pass up the opportunity to 1. talk about the snow non-stop on Facebook and Twitter (... and in our blogs ... ) and 2. stock up on essentials like beer and adult diapers (according to what I'm reading on Facebook and 3. recall the great Chicago blizzard of January 1967. Also known as the time my mom had to push the bus to school. Uphill both ways of course.

1967

1967

What is the likelihood that we'll get a dusting of snow this week, but then a blizzard at the end of March? After our first 60-degree "heat" wave? That would really keep us on our toes.

Why I'm Excited for the Oscars this Year

Not the Academy's Oscar

I love the Oscars. I blame my sister-in-law. She throws a party every year ... and makes it competitive. And I've inherited my competitiveness from my mother, so I actually try to win the Oscar ballot game. And for the past two years, I have.

Usually it's because I do research in advice (see who the critics pick to win) but I also make a semi-effort to actually see the movies nominated. And this year, I'm actually excited to see them!

Movies that are nominated for Oscars are generally "good" but that doesn't always mean they are actually enjoyable to watch or entertaining.

Oscar Predictions

This Sunday is the Oscars, and for the past few years, my (now) sister-in-law has hosted a party (and now that they're married, my brother and sister-in-law have hosted a party). Anyway, we also do Oscar ballots, and usually there is a prize for whoever gets the most correct (but most of us would be happy with just the bragging rights). This year, I'm doing research! And based on that, here are my Oscar picks:

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges
Best Actress: Meryl Streep
Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Supporting Actress: Mo'Nique
Best Director: Kathryn Bigleow
Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Taranteno
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman
Best Animated Film: Up
Best Documentary: The Cove
Best Foreign Language Film: Das Weisse Band (Germany)
Cinematography: Avatar
Art Direction: Avatar
Costume Design: Coco Before Chanel
Film Editing: The Hurt Locker
Sound Editing: Inglorious Basterds
Make up: Star Trek
Original Score: Up
Original Song: The Weary King (Crazy Heart)
Visual Effects: Avatar

Bold = movies I've seen