Oscar Predictions.

As the Oscars are only a few weeks away (Feb. 25th for those of us that still live under rocks), I've decided to post my 2nd annual (whoot whoot) Oscar predictions. Now granted these aren't full proof (Crash anyone?), but they are mine. Enjoy.

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Oscar Predictions, 2007:

Best Adapted Screenplay -

Who should win: Alfonso Cuaron's sizzling script for Children of Men was a late holiday treat, and Patrick Marber's sense of humor turned Notes on a Scandal into a riotous good time. Still, it's William Monahan's powerfully poingnant, and equally humane, screenplay for The Departed that is most deserving.

Who will win: It's a tough call but since Babel wasn't nominated here, expect The Departed to take home the gold.

Best Original Screenplay -

Who should win: Quality wise, it'll have to be a three-way tie. Peter Morgan balanced media and morality in The Queen to stunning effect while Guillermo Arriaga intertwined massive continents and wildly differing cultures in Babel to come up with an impressive drama. And that other Guillermo (Del Toro) crafted a remarkably brilliant drama/fantasy in Pan's Labyrinth. Ultimately though, my vote'd go to Del Toro for going where so few writers have dared venture and returning all the more talented for it.

Who will win: Did I say Babel got nominated here? There is a chance though that Peter Morgan could steal the win and the little engine that could, Little Miss Sunshine, is sneaking up from behind even as we speak.

Best Supporting Actor -

Who should win: Mark Wahlberg and Eddie Murphy both turned in some career-revitalizing work and Alan Arkin was none to shabby as the coke-snorting gramps in Sunshine but I've fallen hardest for Murphy returning to the fast and furious star he was born to be.

Who will win: Again the spector of Sunshine hangs over this, just waiting at the chance of an upset but since Eddie won the SAG, I'll bet he gets the win here too.

Best Supporting Actress -

Who should win: Two Babel star's are nominated here (Adriana Barranza and Rinko Kikuchi) and who can forget those two white chicks gone great (I'm speaking of course of Cate Blanchett and Abigail Breslin)? Still, it's Jennifer Hudson's prowling, ferocious turn as divalicious Effie in Dreamgirls that is a stand-up-and-cheer performance.

Who will win: Did I mention Jennifer Hudson?

Best Actor -

Who should win: Will Smith is a shock in Pursuit of Happyness and Ryan Gosling has earned raves all year as his coke-addicted middle school teacher in Half Nelson, but Forest Whittaker's towering rendition of Idi Amin takes the cake.

Who will win: Forrest Whittaker has garnered nearly all the pre-Oscar awards and shows no signs of stopping now.

Best Actress -

Who should win: Apologies are in order to two of our greatest living actresses, Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren, but this year is the year of Dame Dench and her tour-de-force as an obsessed schoolteacher.

Who will win: All hail the Queen in The Queen! That means you, Helen Mirren.

Best Director -

Who should win: Though Martin Scorsese, Stephen Frears, Clint Eastwood, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu all did admirable and admittedly difficult work on their films, it's Paul Greengrass (that rough-and-tumble guy behind United 93) who astounded me most and left me as deeply wounded as I was overjoyed at his work.

Who will win: There isn't a chance in hell that Martin Scorsese won't win, sadly though it'll be his first out of six nods.

Best Picture -

Who should win: Though I liked every nominee, and loved most of them (sorry Sunshine), I found The Departed to be the most thrillingly violent, and whip-smart fun I've had at the multiplex since Kill Bill.

Who will win: Letters From Iwo Jima's early, and intense, critical praise is probably what earned it a suprise nod (the same could be said of indie Cindarella Story Little Miss Sunshine). And The Queen could sneak in a few wins in other categories but not this one. Instead, it looks like a battle between The Departed and Babel, although with Babel's rocky pre-Oscar road it may be a tough one for them to win. Also Little Miss Sunshine's upset at the SAG's reeks of another Crash incident. In the end though, and with the not-so-soon-forgotten Globe win, Babel will take Hollywood's most coveted golden man.

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Well there it is folks, my favorites and industry favorites. Who should be cheering come that night in the Kodak Theater and who actually will be. As always, tell me what you thought.

See you Feburary 25th.