Our Picks for the Oscars

We love movies at Mapau Bingo, almost as much as we love arguing about them. Between everyone in the office, we've seen nearly every nominated film, so here are our picks for this year's Oscar winners:

Best Actor in a Leading Role:

This was a tough one; there were a lot of great performances. Joaquin Phoenix was pitch-perfect (pun intended) as Johnny Cash. Terrence Howard was great in Crash and Hustle & Flow —although he was way cooler in the latter. Heath Ledger really proved himself in Brokeback Mountain and Strathairn really let us know who he was. But we couldn't shake Philip Seymour Hoffman's performance. He's one of the greatest character actors of our generation and he's our pick.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:

Another close competition. It was wonderful to see Matt Dillon back. We're not sure why Gyllenhaal was a supporting role, but we loved nonetheless. Giamatti is always amazing, and should win for being overlooked last year, but his performance in Cinderalla Man wasn't outstanding. William Hurt was awesome in a very overlooked film, but George Clooney was the actor that resonated with us. Aside from the screenplay, he was the best part of Syriana .

Best Actress in a Leading Role:

Not even close. We love Keira Knightley. Judi Dench is an institution. Charlize employed the same uglyfying strategy as Monster and Felicity Huffman took on incredibly courageous role. But Reese Witherspoon gave a sublime, dead-on performance, easily the best part of the film (other than the music).

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:

Also an easy one. Rachel Weisz was incredible in an amazing movie I couldn't shake for days. Off-screen for much of the movie, she nevertheless haunted every frame. Keener is the new indie darling, and Adams has great things coming, but Weisz is our pick.

Best Animated Feature Film:

Wow! We loved all of these movies. Howl's Moving Castle was perfect, dreamy Miyazaki —and the English dubbing actually improved the movie for once. Corpse Bride was classic, stunning Tim Burton. But Wallace & Gromit had me in stitches—easily the most fun I've ever had at the movies.

Acheievment in Directing:

Great movies, and all superbly directed. But Spielberg's Munich resonated with us. Maybe just because it was such an amazing departure from his early, schmaltzy films, but even weeks laters there are scenes I can forget from that film.

Best Documentary Feature:

Are you kidding? Penguins have entered the Zeitgeist like never before, and we all know who is to blame. March of the Penguins had it all—great uplifting story, humor, love, sex, violence. And never have I felt so blessed to not be a penguin.

Best Foreign Languange Feature:

With every movie taking a political slant this year, our pick is for Paradise Now , the brutally honest look at potential Palestinian suicide bombers.

Best Motion Picture of the Year:

This was decided long ago. We can't see anyone but Brokeback Mountain taking this. This beautiful film has already broken barriers and entered the cultural lexicon with such ferocity—it would a real shock if it didn't win.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Again, this is going to Brokeback Mountain. Amazing how they made this complete of a movie out of a short story.

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Syriana, of course. The screenplay was the central character. And he was good.

Want more Oscar fun? Play our Oscar Night Buzzword Bingo, see our Oscar Speech Surprises or enter our Oscar Night Contest and win DVDs of every nominated movies this year.

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