Here are my predictions for the nominees for the Academy Awards. I usually E-mail these to my friends and make an offer of a small wager. Only this year has one of them accepted, however. I absolutely refuse to acknowledge Chicago for best picture nomination, since it is not the same caliber as the others.

Best Picture:
Lord of the Rings, Gangs of New York, Far from Heaven, Punch Drunk Love, Adaptation

Best Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis (Gangs of New York), Robin Williams (One Hour Photo), Chris Cooper (Adaptation), Jack Nicholson (About Schmidt), Adrien Brody (The Pianist)

Best Actress:
Meryll Streep (The Hours), Nicole Kidman (The Hours), Julianne Moore (The Hours), Selma Hayek (Freida), Renee Zellwinger (Chicago)

Best Supporting Actor:
the man who supplied the voice and movements for Gollum

Best Director:
Spike Jonze (Adaptation), Martin Scorcese (Gangs of New York), Peter Jackson (Lord of the Rings), Roman Polanski (The Pianist), Alexander Payne (About Schmidt)

Best Documentary:
Bowling for Columbine

Best Foreign Film:
Secret Ballot, Russian Ark