The awards of 2009

So, for the first time ever, not even a week after the Oscar nominations, I've seen all 5 Best Picture Nominees, even 2 more of the heavy acting-nominees, and can now say that I'm more prepared for the Academy Awards than ever before. Lets start off with the Nominees:

Best Picture.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. So I'm somewhat biased on this one because I worked on it. The visual effects (my team) are nominated, the story is great, the production values are exquisite. By far one of the 2 main contenders to win it this year. My Grade: A-
Slumdog Millionaire. The underdog that's winning everything this year. It's the "Juno" or "Little Miss Sunshine" of 2008's films, but I feel it's getting more attention now because of the Mumbai attacks and because Juno and Little Miss Sunshine should've won in their respective years. Still, I loved the film, great story of a kid from the slums of Mumbai, that becomes a Millionaire because he learned all the answers to the tough "who wants to be a millionaire" questions the hard way throughout his life, and follows true love along the way. My Grade: A-
The other 3...
Frost/Nixon. Very good film, very engaging and suspenseful. My Grade: B+
Milk. The timing of this film couldn't have been better, gay rights being fought, amazing performances by Sean Penn & James Franco, but not quite the emotion that I expected. My Grade: B
The Reader. First half, interesting and good. Second half, boring and uninspired. My Grade: C

And there were 2 more films that garnered great acting praise.

Doubt. Amazing performances, incredible story of a nun who suspects a priest had an inapropriate relationship with an altar boy. Never fully proving it, never without doubt. Filmwise, it was very "theater-ish" for my taste. My Grade: B
The Wrestler. Awesome story, great acting. You really feel what Mickey Rourke is portraying. Great film. My Grade: B+

Now, my picks for who I feel should win it:
BEST PICTURE - Slumdog Millionaire
BEST DIRECTOR - David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
LEAD ACTOR - Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
LEAD ACTRESS - Merryl Streep, Doubt
SUPPORTING ACTOR - Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
SUPPORTING ACTRESS - Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY - Milk
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY - Slumdog Millionaire
ANIMATED FEATURE - Wall-E
ART DIRECTION - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
CINEMATOGRAPHY - Slumdog Millionaire
COSTUME DESIGN - Milk
FILM EDITING - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
MAKE-UP - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
MUSICAL SCORE - Slumdog Millionaire
SOUND EDITING - The Dark Knight
SOUND MIXING - The Dark Knight
VISUAL EFFECTS - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
all others n/a