Wrap-up and final thoughts

Final prediction tally: 12/19. The last four saved me.

The awards were spread around, for the third year in a row: No Country won four, Bourne won three, no one else had more than two. I think my favorite speech was Glen Hansard's, for sheer emotion. Also, Daniel Day-Lewis gave another perfectly classy and heartfelt thank-you. Overall, they held it under three-and-a-half hours, Stewart was fantastic, and it wasn't all that boring. Not bad. Favorite look of the night: Jennifer Garner. Most beautiful couple: Josh Brolin and Diane Lane. Worst dressed: Marion Cotillard. What was she wearing, fish scales? Also: Cameron Diaz. I understand losing Justin must have been hard for you, but we're going on two years since the break-up. Get it together. Best pregnancy dress: Jessica Alba. Worst excuse for "entertainment": anything on the TV Guide Channel or on E! before the show. I'm embarrassed for you, Joey Fatone, Lisa Rinna, and Ryan Seacrest.

So that's all until next year. I don't know about you, but I'm already rooting for Revolutionary Road, the re-teaming of Jack and Rose (a.k.a. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.) And we now return to your regularly scheduled TV-programming.

Quick Hits, Part III

Things to love: The "Falling Slowly" performance. Jack Nicholson. Bourne winning its third Oscar! The break that comes with the honorary Oscar presentation. "Falling Slowly" wins for best song! I really need to see that movie. The emotional speech from Glen Hasgard. Jon Stewart letting Marketa finish her speech.

Things not to love: How many clip packages do we need? Oscar really likes patting itself on the back. Cameron Diaz's hair. Her dress. Cameron Diaz herself. My predictions are in the toilet, but I think I can save the night with the last four- Original Screenplay, Actor, Director, and Picture. We'll see.

Quick Hits, Pt. II

I think I'll make one of these for every hour this ceremony stretches into. So, five.

Things I love: Javier winning supporting actor. Even though Hal Holbrook looked so cute. Javier's mother was so clearly proud of him. Tilda Swinton wins supporting actress, even though I was kind of rooting for "The Wire's" own Amy Ryan. And what a speech! Anybody that can get a mention of Clooney's Batman nipple suit into her speech is a winner with me.

Other things to love: (not much to hate so far) Two of my favorite pairs of presenters of the night: Josh Brolin and James McAvoy, which...are there two more charming and handsome men in that room? (Besides Clooney) And Jonah Hill and Seth Rogen, who look like brothers, doing what they do best. The best movie of the year in my book, The Bourne Ultimatum, wins the two sound awards.

Awww, Marion Cotillard just won for Best Actress, and my heart melted a little, she was so happy.

Oscar Quick Hits

9:11: 45 minutes in, and five awards have been given out. Things I love: Jon Stewart. It's a toss-up between him and Clooney for who I love most. Katherine Hiegel's dress. Jennifer Garner, who looks stunning. Helen Mirren...God, I hope I look that good when I'm 60. Steve Carell. Animated feature to "Ratatouille" - currently my only correct prediction. Amy Adams singing.

Things I don't love: Viz FX to "Golden Compass" over "Transformers"? Costume to "Elizabeth" over "Atonement"? Playing off the winners after 30 seconds? And how loudly they're doing it? Renee Zellweger's hair and dress. And Renee herself. Ryan Seacrest. The E! network.

Oscar Night!

I love Oscar night. Even though I never see any of these movies until they come out on DVD, I love watching the entire (four-hour-plus-long) show. I'm not even sure why. I think that, unlike the Emmy awards, I'm not terribly invested in the outcome (with some exceptions: Lord of the Rings, The Departed, Martin Scorsese, Leo, Kate Winslet....ok, maybe I am invested) but I don't feel a strong pull toward any of the nominees this year, so hopefully I'll just be able to enjoy the show and the sights (Clooney, Pitt, McAvoy, etc.).

Of course, this also means I can make another round of sure-to-be-wrong predictions. There are many, many people on the Internet better at this than me, but here's my stab at it:

Best Pic: No Country for Old Men. I've actually only seen this and Juno of the nominees, because Netflix let me down re: Michael Clayton. I just think There Will Be Blood is a little too strange, so the academy will go for No Country, which has won pretty much all of the precursors. I think Juno could surpirse, but if Little Miss Sunshine couldn't win last year, I don't think Juno can pull it off this year. (Alt: Juno, If I had a vote: No Country)

Director: The Coen Bros. They've won everything so far. (Alt: Schnabel, My pick: Coens)

Actor: Day-Lewis. The guy makes a movie once every four years and everyone falls all over themselves to honor him for it. (Alt: Clooney, My pick: Viggo)

Actress: Julie Christie. To continue the trend of honoring women who still look amazing in their 60s, started by Helen Mirren last year. And all of this buzz for Cotillard came a wee bit too late, I think. (Alt: Cotillard, My pick: Linney)

Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem. The guy creates the greatest movie villian since Hannibal Lector; of course he's going to win. (Alt: Holbrook, if they want to honor the old people, My pick: Bardem)

Suppoting Actress: This category is a total toss-up, but here's where I think they'll honor the old people. Ruby Dee wins, on the sentimental vote. But Blanchett, Ryan, or Swinton could easily win this one. (Alt: Swinton, My pick: Ryan)

Original Screenplay: Juno

Adapted Screenplay: No Country for Old Men

Costume Design: Atonement

Animated Feature: Ratatouille. Duh.

Cinematography: There Will Be Blood

Documentary: No End in Sight (Unless they really want Michael Moore back up on that stage, and then: Sicko)

Art Direction: Atonement

Editing: Bourne Ultimatum

Visual Effects: Transformers (Giant robots rule all)

Make-up: Pirates 3

Original Score: Atonement

Original Song: "Falling Slowly" Once

Sound Mixing: Transformers

Sound Editing (what's the difference?): Bourne Ultimatum

No one actually cares about the animated short or foreign film awards, so those don't get predictions. I'm looking forward to seeing Amy Adams and Kristen Chenowith perform the songd from Enchanted, and of course, what good are the Oscars without some insane fashion choices? AND: Jon Stewart.

In much, much more depresing news, we'll have the recap/reaction to Episode 8 of 'The Wire" up sometime in the next 24 hours as well. If I'm feeling particularly inspired, I might post from tiem to time during the show tonight, if something pleases me a whole lot, or disappoints me, or shocks me.