Pop Guru's Annual Oscar Fashion Review

Well, that was the most predictable Oscars ceremony ever. We already knew all the winners going into the show, so the ceremony was a little boring. Many thanks to Melissa Leo for dropping an F bomb and keeping things interesting. I was surprised that James Franco was kind of flat, but I thought Anne Hathaway did a great job. And who can resist a dirty old man like Kirk Douglas?

One thing that always guarantees surprises is the fashion! Oy vey, were there some bad ones this year! So let's get on with the annual fashion review.

Best Dressed

This dress is by far the best of the night! I am in love with this dress and can't wait to buy the H&M knockoff. Mila Kunis has wowed us all throughout the awards season, and she certainly did not disappoint at the Oscars.

Sandra Bullock looks sophisticated and classy, per usual. Love the bold color.

It's hard to believe this was underneath all that flannel in Winter's Bone! Jennifer Lawrence was red hot in this sleek dress.

This is the controversial dress of the evening, but I loved it! Definitely a dress only Cate Blanchett can pull off.

I loved Camila Alves' sophisticated black dress. And having Matthew McConaughey as arm candy doesn't hurt either!

Worst Dressed

Maroon lace? Simply. Not. Ok. Though I should give her some credit - I would be too depressed to care what I looked like if Ryan Reynolds dumped me too.

Nicole Kidman said her daughter Sunday Rose dressed her. Time to get a new kid, because this one is clearly defective.

Marisa Tomei couldn't decide which dress she liked best, so she cut them in half and made it into one dress gone terribly wrong.

I didn't know Anne Hathaway and I shopped at the same places - I've seen this same comforter at Anthropologie!

Annette Bening, modeling the TRON collection.

Just because it's vintage doesn't mean it's wearable. Yikes, Florence Welch!

Cat got your tongue, Halle Berry? Oh, no - it got your dress.

Amy Adams in the Body Shop evening gown collection. Seriously, get a new stylist because I hate everything you wear.

Much like me, Elvira has a serious thing for the Brits.



And my ultimate worst dressed award goes to........

Christian Bale's face!

Photos: Getty Images

2011 Academy Awards - Pop Guru's Oscar Challenge & Top Pick

Ah, the grandest night of the year is upon us - Oscar Night! I'm pumped and ready to digest 8 hours of fashion reviews, hoping Ryan Seacrest will fall off the box he stands on live on camera, and watch James Franco add Oscar host to his never ending resume. So I thought I'd bring back the Oscar review as I successfully completed my 6th annual Oscar Challenge. That's right - I saw all 10 movies nominated for Best Picture tonight. My wallet is much emptier, but I saw some great movies and some really not so great ones. Beware if you haven't seen the movies, I didn't censor myself.

The Kids Are All Right - I was so excited about this movie for months before I saw it. I was pumped and ready for an awesome movie, but this movie only left me with a lingering feeling of disappoinment. I mean, I get it - Mark Ruffalo is delicious and who wouldn't want to be with him? But a lesbian cheating on her partner with their sperm donor and tearing her family apart - I don't buy it. Mark Ruffalo could turn anyone straight, but I was not a fan of this storyline.

Winter's Bone - More like throw me a bone so I can gouge my eyes out so I'm released from the hell of watching this godawful film. The first hour of the movie is just Jennifer Lawrence walking through the fields of Ozark land. Seriously, just a girl and some flannel walking through endless fields. She encounters various rednecks along the way, and this was the only time I felt any interest at all because it reminded me of my home, sweet home in the south. These days, I have to watch Teen Mom 2 to see men dipping and spitting in a cup, so the only thing this movie did for me was remind me of our field parties in high school. So thanks for that, but I don't recommend anyone attempting to watch this movie ever. Unless you need a nap, because I took three in my many attempts to get through this movie.

Toy Story 3 - I had never seen Toy Story or Toy Story 2, so I was a little worried I had missed some important story lines and wouldn't be able to keep up but somehow I managed to get by. This was actually a really cute movie, though I have no idea how it snuck it's way into the nominations. I guess when Winter's Bone can get nominated, anything can happen.

The Fighter - Oh, Mark Wahlberg, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Six - as in his unbelievable six pack. This man and his six pack never seem to age. He looks just as good as he did in his Calvins back in the day. While I don't think this is best picture by any means, it is a great sports movie and it included drug addiction which, ironically, is like crack for me. I just can't resist a good drug addiction story. Christian Bale really did an awesome job and I hope he wins Best Supporting Actor, but I could barely look at his skinny face the whole time because it brought back the horrific memories of watching his emaciated body in The Machinist. Vom. Never watch that movie, and if you do, I guarantee that you will be hitting up McDonald's afterwards for fear of looking like Christian Bale in that movie. Anywho, I really liked this movie and there were some great performances. However, Amy Adams delivers pretty much the same surface performance in every movie and still manages to get nominated for just phoning it in. This fact will aggravate me until the end of time.

Inception - My favorite part about this movie is that it didn't allow an opportunity for Joseph Gordon Levitt to show off his singing abilities. Enough is enough - please spare me from ever having to hear the musical stylings of JGL again. I always hated the phrase "water cooler gossip", but this movie literally had me and my coworkers standing at the water cooler discussing this movie for an hour. I'll take any excuse to skip out on work, and this movie had so many interpretations to discuss. Do you think Leonardo ended up in reality or dream world? I think he ended up in reality because the spinning top was acting like it might topple over, and it never did that in dream world. Many other people thought the opposite. It's one of those movies that I want to watch multiple times so I can see the things I missed the first time. This was truly a great film, but it doesn't get my pick for the winner.

127 Hours - I want to give a shout out to all the people that told me that you don't see any of the blood and guts when James Franco is cutting his arm off. "Oh, it's hard to listen to that, but you don't see anything." Really? REALLY? Because I'm pretty sure I saw the bloody interior of his discarded arm squished in by that boulder. Sick!!! I was not prepared for that. It's actually a good diet plan for the squeamish because I could not eat for a long time after that. Besides the gore, I was actually pleasantly surprised by this movie. I had no idea how they were going to make a guy stuck in a ravine for 5 days interesting. But somehow they managed to make just a guy, a boulder and a video camera quite entertaining. Although lesson learned, I will not be going hiking alone anytime soon. Not that I ever would have done that anyway, but I will use this movie as an excuse to get out of any hiking invitations.

True Grit - This movie starts out a little slow, but I thoroughly enjoyed it - much like any Coen brother movie I've ever seen. I mean hey, their first film Blood Simple is slow at first, but I was so engrossed in the terror during the final scenes that I could hardly breathe. I've enjoyed every one of their films, with the only one wavering on my list being Burn After Reading. True Grit is very good and both Jeff bridges and Hailee Stenfield were excellent. Matt Damon could use a little work on his southern accent, but besides that distraction, I highly recommend this one.

The Social Network - I spent most of this movie tense and stressed out, and not because of the uncomfortable feeling everyone gets watching Mark Zuckerberg. I was supremely distracted during this movie because I had dropped my iPhone in a huge nasty brown New York City rain puddle walking into the theater, and my bank account was not prepared to purchase a fifth iPhone. A tupperware full of rice later, my phone survived and I could breathe again. It was very interesting to me though to see this story unfold, much of which I already knew. Everyone can feel connected to this movie because (most) everyone has Facebook. UGA was one of the first non-Ivy League schools to get Facebook, and I am eternally grateful that it didn't debut until well into my senior year so my college antics weren't displayed for all to see. Best Picture? No. Most relevant? Yes.

Black Swan - I was left baffled by this movie for weeks after seeing it. I talked to everyone who had seen it to get their opinion. I had so many questions, including what was the deal with the weird waffle print on Natalie Portman's skin? Gross. Everyone said it was because she was turning into the swan, but I would have preferred some feather action to make that more logical. They touted this movie as a sexual psychological thriller, and sexual it was. It was so sexual it knocked up Natalie Portman. I did really like the film though, mainly because I'm a Lost nerd and I like anything that leaves me asking questions well after I've left the theater. Natalie Portman definitely gave everything she had for this film, and she totally deserves the Best Actress award.

The King's Speech - Note to self: if you attempt the 4pm showing of a historical film, you will be the only person under the age of 60 in the movie theater. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and was wowed by the performances from both Colin Firth and Geoffrey Rush. You actually feel the pain of this man as he is panic stricken when behind a microphone. Dude, I get it. I almost vomited on the microphone during my Maid of Honor speech at a recent wedding. So maybe I had a personal connection to this guy's angst, but I really think people of any age would enjoy this movie. This one has a little bit of everything: drama, comedy, romance, history, the signature royal corgi dogs. I am fairly certain the Academy will choose this for the top award, and I have made this my pick for Best Picture as well. Now if only we could get Helena Bonham Carter to dress as well as she did in this movie, all will be right with the world.

Pop Guru's 2010 Oscar Fashion Review

Last night's Oscars were unpredictable, but nothing was as unpredictable as the dresses that came down the red carpet. One by one, the stars waltzed down the red carpet and with each dress that passed by the camera, a little part of me died inside. Welcome to the year of the neutral! Almost everyone was wearing some shade of nude/metallic/gold. Um, hello - a little pop of color is not going to kill you! Regardless of the pathetic display that was the red carpet last night, you still deserve my annual review. Without further ado, please to enjoy...Pop Guru's Annual Oscar Fashion Review!

Best Dressed

Disclaimer: I realize most of you will disagree with my choices, but please know that there wasn't much to choose from. These picks were as big of a stretch as one of Nicole Kidman's face lifts.

At first I was totally against this, seeing as it looks a little bit like she fashioned the Golden Girls tablecloth into a dress. But the more I look at the entire ensemble, the more I like it. Not her best choice ever, however, not terrible.


I have no idea why Cheryl Hines was at the Oscars, but girl looked great!


You know I am REALLY struggling if I have to choose Queen Latifah as Best Dressed. I blame Charlize for this. Shame on you, Charlize.


Paula Patton is pregnant, for goodness sakes, and she was still able to pick a fabulous dress! She's about to give birth on the red carpet yet she's capable of standing up straight. Take notes, Miley.


This one pains me most of all. I loathe Cameron Diaz and her aggressive need for attention (not that I know anything about that), but alas, she looked good last night. Hopefully, I'll never have to go against my morals like this again. Damn you for this, Charlize.

Worst Dressed

In honor of the Academy honoring ten nominees for Best Picture this year, Pop Guru has decided to follow suit and nominate ten people for Worst Dressed. Simply because there were just too many to narrow it down to only five. This could have been your chance to get on my good side, Miley. Better luck next year.

I just want to know what asshole told Zoe Saldana that it's ok to show up to the Oscars farting hydrangeas.

The pixie look, the goth dress, the knives and forks and whatever else bedazzlement. Obviously Carey Mulligan just wants to edge out Kristen Stewart as Queen of the Hipsters, but she's going to have to start showering a hell of a lot less to accomplish that.


You take four hundred coffee filters, dye them red, and get a Japanese origami artist to configure them into a dress - viola! Vera Farmiga now has the perfect dress to wear for the only Oscar nod she is ever going to get.


Mama always told me to stand up straight, but I never listened. Forgive me, Mother, for I have sinned. I should have listened to you so I wouldn't look like a train wreck like Miley Cyrus.


Woman! What are you doing to me?! Faith Hill is one of the few Southern celebrities that I like, and then she turns up in one of Lisa Marie Presley's hand me downs? Absolute disgrace.


I get it that you are obsessed with Chanel, Diane Kruger, but this is taking it too far. If you paid me $10,000 to shred my goose down comforter and glue it into a dress, that is the only way I would be ok with this look.


This dress almost blends into Demi Moore's skin color. You know nude is too nude when I think you are actually naked until I see the mass of ruffles around your ass.


Is Charlize Theron updating Madonna's 80s cone bra look? Making a play on Princess Leia? Or is she just craving Cinnabon? Is this multiple choice or can I select all of the above?


If Patricia Fields took a shit on a sheet and called it fashion, Sarah Jessica Parker would still wear it and call it fabulous. And that's exactly what happened here, ladies and gentlemen. I present to you the sheet, and SJP just shat all over the red carpet.


Saddam Hussein was allowed out for the big event and Elvira was nice enough to go as his date.

Photos: Wireimage

It's Official - The Oscar Noms Announced!

Hola everyone! I hope you are all celebrating what a momentous week this has been! What's more important than the Oscar nominations being announced? Nothing! That's right - the official 2009 nominations for Academy Awards were announced today and the best award show of the season is underway. Designers are scrambling to get their best dresses to the nominees. People are planning their speeches in case they win. And Tom Cruise is busy trying to find someway to get an invite and pretend he has a legit excuse to be there. Because Scientology is always welcome on the red carpet. Here's the list of nominees:

Best Actor:
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

Every one of these nominations was expected, but I was blindsided when I saw Richard Jenkins was nominated. This is the man that everyone recognizes, but no one has a clue what his name is or what else he's been in (with the exception of geeks like me). He's steadily been in almost everything you've seen in television or film since the '90s - Flirting with Disaster, It Could Happen to You, "Six Feet Under", North Country, Rumor Has It, Step Brothers, Burn After Reading... The list goes on and on. You've seen him and thought - "Hey, who is that guy?" But he rarely gets more than the bat of an eyelash. Which is unfortunate because he was great in "Six Feet Under" and Burn After Reading. I haven't seen The Visitor, but I certainly will now that Richard Jenkins is finally getting the recognition he deserves after 30 years in the industry. The underdog story is always appealing to the masses, and I think his win would be a fantastic one for the people. Bravo, Richard!

Best Actress:
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Kate Winslet - The Reader

Anne Hathaway and Kate Winslet - get ready to duke it out for this one! All are great actresses (though never heard of Melissa Leo until now), but the press has been gunning for these two ladies to take home the gold since last summer. Be prepared to hear a lot more about Anne and Kate over the next month - not that that's a bad thing! Kate looks amazing in the new issue of InStyle, btw.

Best Supporting Actor:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Wow - really? Robert Downey Jr.? I totally understood the Golden Globe nom and felt it was legit if he won, but comedic performances typically have a touch chance at the Oscars. He did a good job in that movie, I just really did not like Tropic Thunder. I guess I shouldn't fault him for being associated with Tom Cruise... It's just so hard! I still haven't gotten over Meryl Streep agreeing to be in Lions for Lambs with him. We'll see if Robert Downey Jr. can surpass Heath Ledger though - the noms were announced on the one year anniversary of his death.

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Man, I need to see Doubt. They are all over these awards! Ok - that's my mission this week. Though I can't stand her, I'm happy Penelope Cruz was nominated because she really was the dominant force in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. See! I can be kind to those I hate! I'm not so evil... (Hear that, Tyra?) However, I don't really understand why Taraji P. Henson's role in Curious Case was that big of a deal? She played a mother - that's about it. She did well, but it wasn't the part of the movie that I thought much about. There's a lot of critics that would disagree with me on that, but whatevs!

Best Picture:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

And the winner is... Pink Panther 2! J/K - My vote goes to Slumdog Millionaire. I loved this film! If you haven't seen it, I suggest you brave the cold and get yourself to a theater...STAT! And if you've seen Curious Case... Well, you may have enjoyed it more the first time you saw it... When it was called Forrest Gump. This video points out the similarities, none of which I noticed!

Of course, I'm participating in Pop Guru's Oscar Challenge again this year for the fourth year running. I have to see every film nominated for Best Picture before the Academy Awards so I can have an educated opinion on who should win. It's the one time of year my opinions are based on solid facts and research, so cherish the moment. They're still unsolicited, but nonetheless, knowledgeable. I challenge you all to participate in this contest as well! You get nothing in return except an empty wallet and a fat ass from all the popcorn you consume, but it's worth it! You have one month until the big day - The Academy Awards air February 22 at 8pm EST on ABC.

Academy Awards Fashion Coverage

It's so late and I'm oh so tired, so sorry to make this brief. But I didn't want to disappoint you and leave you hanging without knowing what I thought about last night's fashion. So here goes...

Worst Dressed:

Cate Blanchett - I'm probably going to get torn apart for this, but this is a hideous dress. She looks like a giant eggplant - and no, I'm not making fun of the fact that she is knocked up. Pregnant or not, this dress would still get my vote for worst dressed.


Penelope Cruz - It's no secret that I despise Penelope. How long have you been in America? It's about time to learn a little English. And how many times can she wear this same silhouette? Every damn time she wears a strapless dress with some sort of feather assortment. Get a new stylist and a speech coach.


Nicole Kidman - The Ice Princess stayed true to her nickname by wearing every diamond that ever existed with this dress. She could have down-played that just a smidge. And when she went to present, the necklace was drapped around her left breast. Was that on purpose, Nicole? You were just trying to show off your new boob, weren't you?


Anne Hathaway - I mean, leave the garden at home. Train wreck upon her shoulder.


Daniel Day-Lewis - Lose the earrings, Captain Jack Sparrow.



Best Dressed:

Cameron Diaz - As much as I hate to admit because I loathe Cameron with a passion, I actually like this ensemble. I can feel my dignity being stripped away by the second.


Marion Cotillard - There have been mixed reviews of this dress. Some people say she looked like a fish. But I really liked it! It fit her perfectly and if I could squeeze my ass into that dress, I would have worn it, too.


Katherine Heigl - Love the dress, hate the hair. Did Ken Paves get a hold of her? Really girl - how about drink the juice, Shelby, because that hair looks like it came straight out of Steel Magnolias. But awesome dress!


Heidi Klum - This dress is fabulous! Heidi rocked it.


Keri Russell - Absolutely love it!!!!! I'll be taking this picture next time I get my hair done to get this cute do. I love this girl. Love the dress. Love the hair. Love the jewels. She gets the ultimate best dressed award!


And now for my special awards...

What the F are you doing at the Oscars? Award:

Miley Cyrus - She annoys the crap out of me. Why were you at the Oscars? Victoria Beckham may as well have shown up if you were there. Paula Abdul - sure, come on down. We're so glad you could make it, Raven Symone. Why don't you just send out an invite to every asshole in Hollywood? Geez, I can't wait until she starts drinking.


Most Awkward and Inappropriate Moment Award:
Who else could this go to but Ryan Seacrest? I didn't see Maria Menounos anywhere so she must have sent her questions to Seacrest in advance. When he asked Jessica Alba if she was going to breastfeed her baby, Dick Clark rolled over in his grave. Wait, I think he is still alive. Regardless, he at least vomited over the tragic reality that his legacy is being shit on by Seacrest.

Photos: People.com

And the Oscar goes to...

The most important night of the year is finally here, ladies and gents. And I have dragged myself out of my black hole of blogdom to share with you devoted Pop Guru fans my picks for the Oscar winners. You didn't think I was going to let this event go by and not give you my two cents? Please, the Guru wouldn't do you like that! I just finished watching Michael Clayton to fulfill my third year of seeing each film nominated for Best Picture. I love this night! The dresses, the jewelry, the awards, the celebs, the speeches. Only a few speeches have ever brought me to tears over the past 24 years. I wonder if anyone will move me so much tonight. Never fear though... My Oscar speech has been prepared since I was eight years old. One day you will finally get to hear it.

Ok people, you know the drill. I'll give you the rundown of who I think should win, the Guru's Pick if you will, and then I will give you who I believe will actually win. I can't really control who The Academy chooses to be the winner, but I can sure as hell try!

Best Actress in a Supporting Role:
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Guru's Pick: I'm pretty ambivalent about the nominees in this category this year. Unpronouncable First Name Ronan did a really good job in Atonement, and how they found someone to look exactly like her when she grew up is still beyond me. Cate Blanchett is The Academy's absolute favorite and can really do no wrong as far as they are concerned. I feel she will most likely win. I haven't seen I'm Not There because I don't give a shit about Bob Dylan and how can a young black boy be him? I just don't get it. Someone did some serious drugs when they dreamed up that shit. But I hear she did a good job and I don't doubt it. But do I think she should win? I don't know...

Academy's Pick: Probably Cate. But I gotta say I hear Amy Ryan did a phenomonal job in Gone Baby Gone and I can't wait to see it. I've been filling every free minute I had this past week seeing all the movies I hadn't seen in anticipation for the big event tonight, so this one slipped through the cracks. Oh, and quick story about my movie adventures this week. I went immediately after work on Tuesday to see There Will Be Blood because that was the only night I was going to have three free hours to sit in the movie theater. Damn, that was a long movie. They could have shaved at least thirty minutes off that easily. But I digress. As I entered the theater, I saw a pathetic setup for the premiere of that A Raisin in the Sun movie for ABC starring Claire Huxtable and Puff Daddy (or whatever he calls himself these days. I prefer my dad's name for him... Piddy). I went about my merry way and sat for a very long three hours in the dark watching a very depressing There Will Be Blood. As I emerged from the theater, I immediately ran for the bathroom because I had a giant Coke and had to use the restroom like one hour in. And I NEVER get up to go to the bathroom during a movie. Especially an Oscar nominated film. Please. Anywho, I left the bathroom and saw this African American fellow chatting on his cell phone. I think for an instant, "Hey, I know that guy," and I raise my hand slightly as if to wave at my friend. Simultaneously, a rather large African American man got extremely defensive and walked towards me hurriedly as if ready to pounce. Only then did I realize I was attempting to say hello to Piddy and in return, get my ass beat. I just laughed in the bodyguard's face and chuckled all the way home. Good times...

Best Actor in a Supporting Role:
Casey Affleck, The Assasanation of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (OMG, I need to sit down after trying to remember all the words in that title. Who am I trying to kid? I am, of course, sitting down.)
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Guru's Pick: This is the easiest decision I will make regarding tonight's awards. I have never been so terrified of a human being as I was of Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men. One look from him and I was chilled down to my very spine. He is by far the scariest mofo that has ever lived and I will wet my pants if I ever encounter him. No lie. I mean I will be completely unable to control my bladder if I ever catch a glimpse of Javier Bardem. He completely transformed himself into a vicious killer fueled only by a love for money with a strange moralistic way of upholding his promises... Although they were deadly promises. Javier terrified me to my very core. So much so that I was constantly checking out the back window of the cab on the way home in fear I was going to get shot in the back of the head. Trust me, after seeing this movie you'd get that same feeling, too.

Academy's Pick: They are fools, fools I tell you, if they have the audacity to pick anyone but Javier. He deserves this award more than anyone else in this category. However, I have heard rumblings that Hal Holbrook might take home the naked gold man for his role in Into the Wild. I have no idea if he did well in that movie, but I have such fond memories of him growing up when he was Julia Sugerbaker's love Reese Watson on "Designing Women". For this, I'm at least glad he is nominated. Bravo, Hal. But the Oscar still goes to Javier.

Best Actress in a Leading Role:
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

Guru's Pick:
I pick Julie Christie. I have not seen Away From Her, but I hear she did a phenomenal job. The film is about a lady who gets Alsheimers and her husband puts her in a nursing home, and she falls in love with another man and her husband can do nothing about it because she is sick and has no idea he exists. Tragic. Very sad. I want to see this movie so bad, but I feel like it will easily make me cry so I have yet to break down and press play. So congrats, Julie. I think you should win.

Academy's Pick: Hell if I know. I mean come on guys, Cate Blanchett... again... for the sequel to Elizabeth? How many movies can we have about that f-ing queen? Why was she so great anyway? Cate could basically film herself going to the bathroom and she would get nominated. Expect that out Summer 2009. Cate Blanchett stars in Number One. Marion Cotillard has become somewhat of Hollywood's newest sweetheart, so she has a fighting chance. Ellen Page is, of course, nominated. I loved Juno, I did. But I just don't know if I feel anything about it should be nominated except for Best Original Screenplay. I really love Laura Linney, but I doubt she will take home the gold. We shall see tonight...

Best Actor in a Leading Role:
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Guru's Pick: Daniel Day-Lewis. He's been in like seven movies and won awards for every one. He's the modern day King Midas. Whatever he touches turns to gold. I wish I could say Viggo Mortensen because DAMN, he's hot! But that's just not gonna happen. George Clooney did well in Michael Clayton, but he's done that brooding thing too much recently. I mean, Syriana? What the F was that about? Never been more confused in my life. Johnny Depp - no way I was going to pay $12 to see that movie. Call me when it's on DVD.

Academy's Pick: Daniel Day-Lewis. Cate Blanchett and Daniel are the Oscar Dream Team. He plays a psycho well and did a fab job in There Will Be Blood. And who else could start a craze over a quote as stupid as "I drink your milkshake!"? His character was a very cold man obsessed with power and money and wouldn't let anything, even his son, come between him and his oil. Daniel took the man from his most powerful days to his hermit Howard Hughes-like old age and turned him very convincingly into a psycho - yet, is he psycho? These are questions that only Daniel Day-Lewis himself is capable of creating.

And finally, the Oscar goes to...

Best Picture:
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Guru's Pick: As I said earlier, I have yet again acheived my sad little goal of seeing each film nominated for Best Picture. How else will I be able to make this very important executive decision that so many people rely on? And after much deliberation, I have decided the award should go to........ No Country for Old Men. I loved it! Although I spent much of the movie covering my face with my jacket, I was in awe of how a movie without any music whatsoever could send me into such a state of anticipation. The suspense is unreal. When is Javier going to show up? Who is going to get shot next? Is someone standing around the corner waiting to shoot me with some weird oxygen tank gun thing? OMG - what is about to happen next? That is how I felt the whole movie. And then, it ended. And I was all, what the F? What just happened? It kept me thinking for days. I love thinker films - and hate them at the same time. But a movie that can force me to actually use my brain - well, that's nothing short of a miracle and definitely worthy of the Best Picture Oscar.

Academy's Pick: This will be a duel to the finish between No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood. It all comes down to this, folks. Both are good films, but I felt that No Country for Old Men was definitely the better picture. I wouldn't have made any adjustments to that film at all, yet There Will Be Blood could have definitely been shorter. I'm not complaining about the three hours. I've seen Braveheart more times than I can count and happily sit through three hours of blood and gore with no issues. But There Will Be Blood could have gotten the point across in two and half hours at least. I'm just saying, this small difference is the deciding factor for me. No Country for Old Men deserves that Oscar - you hear me, Academy?

Well, I hope you all enjoyed that. Look forward to Pop Guru's Fashion Coverage some time tomorrow! You better watch tonight! And think about me up on that stage one day...