The nominations for the 77th Academy Awards. My opinions are placed beneath each category.

Best Picture
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) A Forward Pass Appian Way/IMFIMF Production

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Richard N. Gladstein and Nellie Bellflower, A FilmColony Production

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) A Warner Bros. Pictures Production

"Ray" (Universal) Universal Pictures/Bristol Bay Production

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox) Michael London, Producer, A Sideways Productions, Inc. Production

I expect "The Aviator" to take the cake this year but it would be great to see either "Sideways" or "Million Dollar Baby" taking it. If I was voting though, it would be "Million Dollar Baby" all the way. One thing that bugs me though is that "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" wasn't even nominated in this category. What a travesty!

Directing
Martin Scorsese, "The Aviator"
Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby"
Taylor Hackford, "Ray"
Alexander Payne, "Sideways"
Mike Leigh, "Vera Drake"

Again, Scorsese is going to win this one because of his almost impeccable body of work. But again, they're awarding not the best. I'd choose Clint Eastwood as best director because his direction in "Million Dollar Baby" is just simply brilliant. Michel Gondry's exasperating work from "Eternal Sunshine" has been snubbed for Taylor Hackford. What another travesty? Gondry's work totally made "Eternal Sunshine" into the film it is!

Best Actor in a Leading Role
Don Cheadle, "Hotel Rwanda"
Johnny Depp, "Finding Neverland"
Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Aviator"
Clint Eastwood, "Million Dollar Baby"
Jamie Foxx, "Ray"

Jamie Foxx is no doubt going to win the Oscar for his role as Ray Charles. It would be nice to Leonardo DiCaprio win an Oscar for "The Aviator" as his performance is absolutely flawless BUT if I was voting I'd vote for Clint Eastwood because his final scene is just incredibly heartbreaking. I'm disappointed to not see Paul Giamatti on this list. Seeing Johnny Depp on this list makes me wonder if the Academy nominated him for his performance or merely his Irish accent. The best actors never win, right?

Best Actress in a Leading Role
Annette Bening, "Being Julia"
Catalina Sandino Moreno, in "Maria Full of Grace"
Imelda Staunton, "Vera Drake"
Hilary Swank, "Million Dollar Baby"
Kate Winslet, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Hilary Swank all the way, baby. Her role as Maggie Fitzgerald is just perfection (confirming that "Boys Don't Cry" wasn't a fluke). It would be nice though for Kate Winslet to win for her role as Clementine. Annette Bening doesn't even deserve to be in here. Uma Thurman and her performance in Kill Bill: Volume 2 was much better. Again, girls who kill people don't warm up to the Academy.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Alan Alda, "The Aviator"
Thomas Haden Church, "Sideways"
Jamie Foxx, "Collateral"
Morgan Freeman, "Million Dollar Baby"
Clive Owen, "Closer"

Thomas Haden Church is still the frontrunner on this list despite Clive Owen taking the Golden Globe. I'd pick Church for the Oscar but if Freeman takes this, I won't be disappointed. It's nice to see Alan Alda to be nominated for his great work as the sinister Senator from "The Aviator."

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Cate Blanchett, "The Aviator"
Laura Linney, "Kinsey"
Virginia Madsen, "Sideways"
Sophie Okonedo, "Hotel Rwanda"
Natalie Portman, "Closer"

It would be an injustice if Virginia Madsen loses this Oscar. Sure, Natalie Portman was hot in Closer but we award the performance not the hotness. It's great to see a surprise pick here with Sophie Okonedo from "Hotel Rwanda." Madsen for the Oscar with Blanchett as the subsitute.

Animated Feature Film
"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Brad Bird

"Shark Tale" (DreamWorks) Bill Damaschka

"Shrek 2" (DreamWorks) Andrew Adamson

If "The Incredibles" doesn't win this, I'm going to shoot myself in the head. I don't know what the hell "Shark Tale" is doing here. "The Polar Express" was decent and much better than "Shark Tale." Why wasn't that nominated?

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
"Before Sunset" (Warner Independent PicturesWarner Independent Pictures) Screenplay by Richard Linklater& Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke - Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Screenplay by David Magee

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) Screenplay by Paul Haggis

"The Motorcycle Diaries" Screenplay by José Rivera (Focus Features and Film Four)

"Sideways" (Fox Searchlight/20th Century Fox) Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

Why is "Before Sunset" nominated for best adapted screenplay? I thought this was an original work? Choosing "Sideways" is definitely enticing but most of the performances in the film were mostly improvised. "Million Dollar Baby" again for this one.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Written by John Logan

"Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman (Focus Features) Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth

"Hotel Rwanda" (United Artists in association with Written by Keir Pearson & Terry George, Lions Gate Entertainment through MGM Distribution Co.)

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Written by Brad Bird

"Vera Drake" (Fine Line Features, Alain Sarde and UK Film Written by Mike Leigh Council in association with Inside Track Films)

Oh my God. Thank God I'm not voting. "The Incredibles" or "Eternal Sunshine?" What a dilemma. I'd give "The Incredibles" the edge though.

Art Direction
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Dante Ferretti, Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Art Direction: Gemma Jackson, Set Decoration: Trisha Edwards

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Art Direction: Rick Heinrichs, Set Decoration: Cheryl A. Carasik

"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) Art Direction: Anthony Pratt, Set Decoration: Celia Bobak

"A Very Long Engagement" (Warner Independent Pictures) Art Direction: Aline Bonetto

"The Aviator" hands down.

Cinematography
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Robert Richardson

"House of Flying Daggers" (Sony Pictures Classics) Zhao Xiaoding

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) Caleb Deschanel

"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) John Mathieson

"A Very Long Engagement" Bruno Delbonnel (Warner Independent Pictures)

It's nice to see "The Passion of the Christ" being nominated but it won't win here. Robert Richardson's work on "The Aviator" is phenomenal but first timer Zhao Xiaoding's work on "House of Flying Daggers" was out of this world. "House of Flying Daggers" for me.

Costume Design
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Sandy Powell

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Alexandra Byrne

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Colleen Atwood

"Ray" (Universal) Sharen Davis

"Troy" (Warner Bros.) Bob Ringwood

Where's the nomination for Edna Mode for "The Incredibles?!" Hehe, just kidding. Sad to see Emi Wada for her work in "House of Flying Daggers" being snubbed in favor of the piece of shit "Troy." I'll be picking "The Aviator."

Documentary Feature
"Born into Brothels" (THINKFilm) Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski - A Red Light Films, Inc. Production

"The Story of the Weeping Camel" (THINKFilm) Luigi Falorni and Byambasuren Davaa - A Hochschule für Fernsehen und Film München Production

"Super Size Me" (Roadside Attractions/Samuel Morgan Spurlock Goldwyn Films) A Kathbur Productions/The Con Production

"Tupac: Resurrection" (Paramount) Lauren Lazin and Karolyn Ali An MTV - Amaru Entertainment, Inc. Production

"Twist of Faith" Kirby Dick and Eddie Schmidt - A Chain Camera Pictures Production

It's Tupac vs. the Big Mac. One's dead. One is delicious. "Super Size Me" all the way, baby.

Editing
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Thelma Schoonmaker

"Collateral" (DreamWorks and Paramount) Jim Miller and Paul Rubell

"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Matt Chesse

"Million Dollar Baby" (Warner Bros.) Joel Cox

"Ray" (Universal) Paul Hirsch

The editing has to go to "The Aviator." This is one category where "The Aviator" triumphs over "Million Dollar Baby."

Foreign Language Film
"As It Is in Heaven" Sweden, A GF Studios Production

"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" France, A Galatée Films/Pathé Renn/France 2, Cinema/Novo Arturo Films/Vega Film AG Production

"Downfall" Germany, A Constantin Film Production

"The Sea Inside" Spain, A Sogecine and Himenóptero Production

"Yesterday" South Africa, A Videovision Entertainment Production

This category has caused a shitstorm of controversy due to the fact that "House of Flying Daggers" wasn't even nominated in this category. And the other fact that "The Chorus" took it's place (it's a shitty film). Everyone thought that "House of Flying Daggers" was a lock at least for a nomination. This category is also missing "A Very Long Engagement," "Tae Guk Gi," "The Motorcycle Diaries," because of the idiotic rules the Academy has on foreign films.

Makeup
"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" (Paramount and DreamWorks) Valli O’Reilly and Bill Corso

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) Keith Vanderlaan and Christien Tinsley

"The Sea Inside" (Fine Line Features and Sogepaq) Jo Allen and Manuel García

This is hard. Jesus looking like shit or Jim Carrey looking weird? I'm going for "The Passion of the Christ." It won't win though.

Music (Score)
"Finding Neverland" (Miramax) Jan A.P. Kaczmarek

"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" John Williams (Warner Bros.)

"Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events" Thomas Newman (Paramount and DreamWorks)

"The Passion of the Christ" (Icon and Newmarket) John Debney

"The Village" (Buena Vista) James Newton Howard

I'm amazed that Michael Giacchino's work here for "The Incredibles" wasn't even nominated. That film certainly had the best score of the year. It's nice to see James Newton Howard's great score being nominated for "The Village" (the only thing in the film that didn't suck). I'd pick James Newton Howard.

Music (Song)
"Accidentally In Love" from Music by Adam Duritz, Charles Gillingham,
"Shrek 2" (DreamWorks) Jim Bogios, David Immergluck, Matthew Mallery and David Bryson, Lyric by Adam Duritz and Daniel Vickrey

"Al Otro Lado Del Río" from Music and Lyric by Jorge Drexler
"The Motorcycle Diaries" (Focus Features and Film Four)

"Believe" from Music and Lyric by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.)

"Learn To Be Lonely" from Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
"The Phantom of the Opera" (Warner Bros.) Lyric by Charles Hart

"Look To Your Path (Vois Sur Ton Chemin)" from Music by Bruno Coulais
"The Chorus (Les Choristes)" (Miramax) Lyric by Christophe Barratier

Eh. That's all I have to say. "Accidentally in Love" and "Believe" are corny as hell. Two, I don't even understand and the Phantom of the Opera one is just plain laughable. Where's Matt Stone and Trey Parker's "America, Fuck Yeah!"

Sound Editing
"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Michael Silvers and Randy Thom

"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.) Randy Thom and Dennis Leonard

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Paul N.J. Ottosson

"Incredibles" hands down. All the way.

Sound Mixing
"The Aviator" (Miramax, Initial Entertainment Group and Warner Bros.) Tom Fleischman and Petur Hliddal

"The Incredibles" (Buena Vista) Randy Thom, Gary A. Rizzo and Doc Kane

"The Polar Express" (Warner Bros.) Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis Sands and William B. Kaplan

"Ray" (Universal) Scott Millan, Greg Orloff, Bob Beemer and Steve Cantamessa

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell, Jeffrey J. Haboush and Joseph Geisinger

Again, "The Incredibles" must win this.

Visual Effects
"Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" (Warner Bros.) Roger Guyett, Tim Burke, John Richardson and Bill George

"I, Robot" (20th Century Fox) John Nelson, Andrew R. Jones, Erik Nash and Joe Letteri

"Spider-Man 2" (Sony Pictures Releasing) John Dykstra, Scott Stokdyk, Anthony LaMolinara and John Frazier

All I can say is: Where the fuck is the nomination for "Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow"?