Movies have always been a major Love in my Life as I am fortunate enough to a Mom who exposed me to every genre.  When I was a child, my Mom and I would spent hours, and sometimes stay up all night on Fridays, watching old black and white classics, like “To Have or Have Not” and “The Thin Man.” Once I grew up, I often skipped college and stood in line for entire days to be among the first to see the latest blockbusters.  And now, my movie collection is running neck and neck with my book library especially with the constant updating due to format change.  Thus, Oscar Day is always like a holiday in the TGATP house and it is celebrated as such, with an Oscar meal and an outfit befitting the festivities.  So here are my predictions on who I think will win vs. who I think should win tonight’s bigger Oscars:

Best Picture

Who will win:  Avatar

Who should win:  Avatar

Although my favorite film was “Up in the Air“, no one can deny the outstanding achievement that is “Avatar”!

Best Director

Who will win:  Kathryn Bigelow

Who should win:  James Cameron

“Avatar” has changed the very process of movie making and I feel that James Cameron has been robbed in this awards season.  While all of us women in the film industry, would love to see a female director win Best Director, Cameron’s techniques were much more groundbreaking and revolutionized the industry.

Best Actor

Who will win:  Jeff Bridges

Who should win:  George Clooney

“Up in the Air” is another film that is being robbed this awards season!  Clooney’s performance was the best in his career and really should be honored as such.

Best Actress

Who will win:  Sandra Bullock and/or Meryl Streep

Who should win:  Sandra Bullock and/or Meryl Streep

Sandra was extraordinary as Leanne Tuohy, in a film that exceeded expectations.  But I loved Meryl, in “Julie and Julia”, so this is almost too close to call.  A tie, in the vein of the Hepburn/Streisand one of Oscar 1969, perhaps?  That would be wonderful to see!

Best Supporting Actor

Who will win: Christopher Waltz

Who should win:  Woody Harrelson

The evil Nazi thing is a bit of a cliché now and has been portrayed over and over in films. Ralph Fiennes in “Schindler’s List” was the best. In addition, Tarantino has always been adept at writing long-winded sinister speeches for murderous characters.  Woody’s memorable performance in a war film that I personally thought was better that the over hyped Hurt Locker, deserves the Oscar here.

Best Supporting Actress

Who will win: Mo’Nique

Who should win:  Anna Kendrick

I am SICK and tired and tired and sick about all the worship of the dreadful cinematic hate crime that is “Precious”! Why does just about every Black actor only win an Oscar for being a trifling stereotype!  From Hattie as a bugged eyed mammy, to Whoopi as a con artist, to Denzel as a crooked cop, to Halle as a Southern woman in inexplicable lust with a man who is a racist prone to shooting at lil’ Black children.  And now, we have Mo’Nique portraying monster so wretched that she kicks her obese daughter in the head while she gives birth to her grand/stepchild — none of these characters are laudable!  The only Black actor to win for playing a truly honorable character was Sidney Poitier for his role in “Lillies of the Field”. Now 40 years later, Lee Daniels, Mo’Nique, and everyone involved with this dreck have taken Black folks back to the days of blackface!  How do these people sleep at night?

Anna, in “Up in the Air” was fantastic as a newly hired efficiency expert.  She brought the irritatingly preppy girls at my last day job to startlingly accurate life!

Best Adapted Screenplay

Who will win: Up in the Air

Who should win:  Up in the Air

With the current economic climate, “Up in the Air” was just so timely and spot on with every character and every line completely believable.

Best Original Screenplay

Who will win: Inglorious Basterds

Who should win: The Messenger

Why “Inglorious Basterds” is even in this category is a mystery as the movie is a remake.  But the Oscar folks seem to be bending over to find a way to give Tarantino something for a film I considered his worst.  “The Messenger” was, one of the most poignant war films ever made, with a story angle that has never been explored.

Best Documentary Feature

Who will win: The Cove

Who should win:  Food Inc.

The documentary category is one that frustratingly almost never gets it right!  From not nominating the best docs ever made, including “Favela Rising” and “Pray the Devil Back to Hell”, to playing obvious politics for awards, the nominating process in this category is very suspect.  While “The Cove” will probably win, “Food Inc.“ is extraordinary and will change the way you look at food.