The almost-abriged academy awards are upon us once again. Long-time producer Gil Cates was on NPR saying that a little part of him wanted to see how the show would turn out if the writer’s were still on strike. Hmm, I guess we won’t know this year. Here are my picks and what I think the ‘venerable’ academy will go with. Admittedly, I have not seen all of the films but then again, who has, including the academy?

BEST PIC                Me:  There Will Be Blood        The Academy:  Atonement

Director                    Paul Thomas Anderson                                Julien Schnabel

ACTOR           Daniel Day-Lewis                                     Daniel Day-Lewis

ACTRESS                      Marion Cotillard                                       Julie Christy

SUP. ACTOR          Casey Affleck                                                             Hal Holbrook

SUP. ACTRESS      Ruby Dee                                                                    Ruby Dee

ORIG. SCRIPT       Tamara Jenkins                                        Diablo Cody

ADAP. SCRIPT       Coen Brothers                                          Coen Brothers

ANIMATED            Persepolis                                                                      Ratouille

CINEMATOG          Roger Elswit (TWBB)                       Roger Deakins (NCF..)