The real Academy Award winners vs. my predictions

Last night I made my predictions for some of the most popular Academy Award categories and tonight the real winners were announced. On a grading scale of A to F, I think I made a C-.

Not too shabby for my first attempt at Oscar predictions, but it shows that I need to brush up on my cinematic eye and make it as sharp as my fashion eye.

For a performance by an actor in a leading role, I predicted that Mickey Rourke would take the Oscar…but Sean Penn ended up winning. Keep in mind, he was a VERY close second in my prediction, so I wasn’t too far off. Still, I predicted wrong – but I couldn’t be any happier with the result. I absolutely adored Penn in Milk and his acceptance speech was just as great.

In the category of performance by an actor in a supporting role, I opted for Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight and…Heath Ledger won! The win was enormously bittersweet as his family accepted the award on his behalf with such grace.

…that’s one I got right.

Kate Winslet won for performance by an actress in a leading role – and who did I predict? Kate Winslet! Score another one for me! I was jumping up and down for this one!

For a performance by an actress in a supporting role I was ambitious and thought that Viola Davis would take the prize, but I was proven wrong as Penelope Cruz took the Oscar. I think I need to re-watch Vicky Cristina Barcelona and pay attention a little bit more to her performance.

Danny Boyle jumped up and down like Tigger when he took the Oscar for his achievement in directing Slumdog Millionaire (one of many for the brilliant movie). I chose Ron Howard for Frost/Nixon. Again, I was wrong. Damn.

For adapted screenplay, I thought Eric Roth and Robin Swicord would take it for Benjamin Button – but once again, I was WRONG. Simon Beaufoy racked another Oscar for the beautiful writing he did for Slumdog Millionaire. I really can’t complain about this one.

For best original screenplay, Dustin Lance Black won for Milk. I got this one RIGHT! Black gave this endearing acceptance speech that literally had me in tears. He just inspired me to start working on my own screenplay. Add another one to my list of correct predictions.

The biggest Oscar of the evening, “best motion picture” went to…Slumdog Millionaire. And I guessed….Slum Dog Millionaire!!!! That’s FOUR points for me!

This has to be the best Oscars telecast that I have seen in POR VIDA. Hugh Jackman was the perfect host and considering I am re-watching the musical numbers as I type this, I think 2010′s Academy Awards has a VERY hard act to follow.

I give myself three years until I am nominated for my original screenplay.

For a full list of winners, visit Oscar.com

…and be sure to check out my red carpet coverage of the 2009 Oscars at Examiner.com