There Will Be Gold: Oscar Picks

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The Coen brothers' suspenseful "No Country for Old Men" is up for several Oscars. Photo by Richard Foreman/Miramax Films

IF ONLY HOLLYWOOD followed the Chinese calendar, then this could be the year of the Rat at the Oscars. Sadly, the best the delicious "Ratatouille" can hope for is Best Animated Feature, if "Persepolis" doesn't pull off the upset.

Instead, this eclectic group of nominees features no blockbusters — "Juno" is the highest-grossing film of the group — which means this Sunday should be a sort of independent's day.

Will the Academy seek "Atonement" for picking a very bloody (but bloody good) movie like "The Departed" last year or will "No Country for Old Men" drink "There Will be Blood's" milkshake? And perhaps the biggest question of all, did anyone actually see "Michael Clayton"?

BEST PICTURE
All the critics say "No Country for Old Men" is the Coen brothers' best film since "Fargo." Of course, "The Big Lebowski" is their best, but this may be their year, dude. Having won the screen actors guild, producers guild, directors and writers guild awards, "No Country" should hold off surging "Juno."
» Will Win: "No Country for Old Men"
» Should Win: "No Country for Old Men"

BEST DIRECTOR
If only we could guarantee a sauced-up Sean Young (is there any other kind?) a front-row seat, there may be some sentiment for a second round of heckling with Julian Schnabel ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"). Alas, there is less of a chance for a surprise here than the top prize. Forget a milkshake, White Russians seem in order for the Joel and Ethan Coen.
» Will Win: The Coen Brothers
» Should Win: The Coen Brothers

BEST ACTOR
Cue the orchestra to cut off any attempts by Daniel Day-Lewis ("There Will be Blood") to say how much he would have loved Heath Ledger ... had he actually met him. Day-Lewis is a lock, even if Viggo Mortensen deserves some sort of prize for letting it all hang out in "Eastern Promises."
» Will Win: Daniel Day-Lewis
» Should Win: Viggo Mortensen

BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie ("Away From Her") won an Oscar so long ago — 43 years to be exact — that this must seem like new hat to her. Her toughest competition comes from Marion Cotillard, who played Edith Piaf in "La Vie En Rose." Ellen Page became a star in "Juno" but she's going to have suck on some hard candy this time.
» Will Win: Julie Christie
» Should Win: Ellen Page

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Hal Holbrook ("Into the Wild") had to die to pick up enough sentimental votes to top Javier Bardem ("No Country"). He didn't, friendo.
» Will Win: Javier Bardem
» Should Win: Javier Bardem

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Ruby Dee ("American Gangster") will get the Hillary Clinton vote with as much success as the candidate; Amy Ryan ("Gone Baby Gone") was the hot pick two months ago; Cate Blanchett ("I'm Not There") is the new Meryl Streep, which means lots of nominations but lots of losses; and Tilda Swinton may be how "Michael Clayton" gets rewarded.
» Will Win: Tilda Swinton
» Should Win: Cate Blanchett

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Coens won a writing prize for "Fargo." Sequel time.
» Will Win: "No Country for Old Men"
» Should Win: "No Country for Old Men"

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
"Juno" or "Michael Clayton" take home a token prize.
» Will Win: "Juno"
» Should Win: "Ratatouille"

"Ratatouille" photo courtesy Pixar