Your Cole Smithey Oscar Prediction Cheat-Sheet

As with all predictions, this is just one critc's best guesses. Bon chance!

1. Best Picture: "Slumdog Millionaire" -- should and most likely will win.

2. Best Actor: If more people knew about the Mickey Rourke on-set shenanigans that temporarily shut down production on "The Wrestler," he probably wouldn't have gotten a nomination. Sean Penn should walk away with the statue for his amazing performance as Harvey Milk.

3. Best Actress: Kate Winslet will win for "The Reader" even though she deserves it more for "Revolutionary Road." Melissa Leo does not belong in the noms for the mediocre indy film "Frozen River."

4. Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger for "The Dark Knight" --for a spectacular performance.

5. Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz for "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" -- an example of sexuality trumping everything else.

6. Best Director: Danny Boyle for "Slumdog Millionaire"--the right choice.

7. Foreign Film: "Waltz With Bashir" (Israel) will probably win, although "The Class" (France) is a better film.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Simon Beaufoy ("Slumdog Millionaire") should deservedly walk away with this one.

9. Original Screenplay: Dustin Lance Black will likely get the trophy for "Milk," even though Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter are favored by critics for "WALL-E."

10. Animated Feature Film: "WALL-E" will win easily in this sparsely populated category.

11. Art Direction: Donald Burt and Victor Zolfo will win for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," but my personal favorite is Nathan Crowley and Peter Lando for "The Dark Knight"

12. Cinematography: Anthony Dod Mantle for "Slumdog Millionaire" is my best bet, even if I'd personally give it to Wally Pfister for "The Dark Knight."

13. Sound Mixing: A toss-up between "The Dark Knight" and "Slumdog Millionaire," "Slumdog" will take the prize.

14. Sound Editing: "The Dark Knight" should get the little gold man, just to split the baby with "Slumdog" for "Sound Mixing."

15. Original Score: "Slumdog Millionaire"--A.R. Rahman.

16. Original Song: "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire" -- a very catchy tune.

17. Costume: "The Duchess" -- the costumes were the best thing about the movie.

18. Documentary Feature: "Man on Wire" -- no competition here.

19. Documentary (short subject): Your guess is as good as mine in this category. You're on your own.

20. Film Editing: "Slumdog Millionaire."

21. Makeup: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- the best thing about the movie was the makeup.

22. Animated Short Film: As most of the audience, I didn't see 'em. "Lavatory -- Lovestory" sounds just strange enough to be read out loud at the Oscars.

23. Live Action Short Film: "Manon on the Asphalt" - for the same reason as #22.

24. Visual Effects: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- behind makeup, this is the other reason to see "Button."