Who Will Take Home An Oscar?

(CBS)  With only two days before the Academy Awards, all of the ballots have been cast and the voting has closed.

Experts are now chiming in on who they think will win.

Entertainment Weekly's Los Angeles bureau chief Sean Smith shared his Oscar predictions with Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

"Who's going home with an Oscar this Sunday?" Chen asked.

Best Actor Nominees: Richard Jenkins for "The Visitor," Frank Langella for "Frost/Nixon," Sean Penn for "Milk," Brad Pitt for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler."

"Who should win and who will win?" Chen asked.

"Who will win is probably Sean Penn for 'Milk,' although it's a tight race between him and Mickey Rourke. It could go to Mickey, but I'm feeling it will go to Sean," Smith said.

"Who should it go to?" Chen asked.

"I think it should go to Sean. I think that's an incredible performance. Anybody who knows Sean Penn, they know he's nothing like that character, nothing," he said.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Josh Brolin for "Milk," Robert Downey Jr. for "Tropic Thunder," Philip Seymour Hoffman for "Doubt," Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" and Michael Shannon for "Revolutionary Road."

"Who should win, who will win?" Chen asked.

"I think Heath Ledger should win. And I think Heath Ledger will win. It's really extraordinary, though, because if he wins, it is only the second time that someone who - an actor who has died has won an Oscar after they've died. The first was Peter Finch for 'Network.' It's rare for an actor who is deceased to win, but that performance is so indelible. Even if he were alive, I think he'd win. A lot of people are talking about how it's a sentimental win. I don't think so. I think if he were alive, he'd still win," Smith said.

"If he wins, who will accept for him?" Chen asked.

"His family, which will be a tear-jerker. His family will accept it. I think his parents and maybe his sister," Smith said.

Best Actress Nominees: Anne Hathaway for "Rachel Getting Married," Angelina Jolie for "Changeling," Melissa Leo for "The River," Meryl Streep for "Doubt," and Kate Winslet for "The Reader."

"Who should and will win?" asked Chen.

"Kate Winslet for 'The Reader.' She also did 'Revolutionary Road,' which she isn't nominated for this year. She's at the peak of her beauty and her power and she's been nominated six times; she's never won. I think she's going to win and it should go to her. Although Meryl is hot on her heels, she has won two. The last time she won an Oscar, Kate Winslet was 8."

Streep has won two Oscars, for "Sophie's Choice" and "Kramer vs. Kramer."

Best Supporting Actress Nominees: Amy Adams for "Doubt," Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Viola Davis for "Doubt," Taraji P. Henson for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," Marisa Tomei for "The Wrestler."

"Who should and will win?" Chen asked.

"I think who will win is probably Penelope Cruz," Smith said. "I think Viola Davis should win. Ten minutes in 'Doubt,' it's incredible. She has this one scene that is heart breaking. I think Penelope Cruz, who has been nominated before. She's really fun."

"Who's going to take home best picture?" Chen asked.

"'Slumdog Millionaire.' You can bet on it. You can bet your 401(k) on it," Smith said.

[likeitis5050]

I would love it if just one year the idiot people asking stupid questions would ask a few very important questions.

1) Did you travel by private jet to get here? Have you travelled by private jet in the last year? If yes, how many gallons of jet fuel have you used in the past year?

2) Did you travel by limo here tonight?

3) How energy efficient is your home? Do you use 10 times, 15 times or 20 times the average home owners energy?

Now after answering these questions, inform them of the following:

1) Albert Gore flies in private jets, owns a yacht and lives in a huge mansion that uses 20 times the average Americans home.

2) Former President Bush owns a ranch in Texas that is heated and cooled primarily by thermal power, drives a pickup powered by CNG, and recycles critical rainwater for use later.

Then the last question is, who do you admire more, Albert Gore or George W Bush and why?


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Posted by IndependentI

Bravo! I see the 'gift packages' they get are still loaded to the hilt...poor little things having to downplay their excess using plain brown bags....too freakin much!

[likeitis5050]

Interesting how celebrities can come out for capping salaries and still get obscene amounts of money for their roles..for guest appearances...for showing up to show off...etc. Wonder how that's gonna fly when Congress zeros in on THEIR lavish lifestyles. Can't wait to see Barbra Streisand's face then...

[hennighg]

The Oscars are disgracefully easy to figure out. I've got a 5-year streak picking the winning actors in all four categories. I also have 3 out of 5 best movies. It has absolutely nothing at all with who is actually the best. It has everything to do with making the Oscar voters seem intelligent.

[ocasanas]

Who cares about the Oscars! The economy of the regular people is what matters most. This "Academy" should focus on helping people in need. Give back to the community as a way to say thanks for watching our movies.