Fresh Loaf

1. Our complete Oscar predictions, even ‘Documentary Short’ (It undoubtedly was Fresh Loaf’s gusto for “The Conscience of Nhem En’s” that pushed this blog post over the top.)

2. Upcoming AJC cuts to be ’substantial’ (Tragic and unfair, but not really a surprise.)

3. The Televangelist: ‘Lost’ episode 6 (What happened Ben? What happened to Aaron? What happened to Kate’s unconvincing attempt to abide by the law?)

4. Georgia has the Bible Belt blues (The Christian Coaltion relied on teetotaling teenagers to threaten our chance to buy beer on Sundays. Meanies.)

5. Madea Goes to Jail, locks out critics (Tyler Perry is predictably cagey about his newest project.)

(Photo by Ishika Mohan)

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Heath Ledger (front) as the Joker, your pick for Best supporting actor

The votes are in, and the awards go to:

Actor in a supporting role: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight, with 80 percent of the votes

Actress in a supporting role: Marisa Tomei for The Wrestler, with 36 percent, barley beating out Penélope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, who came in with 32 percent

Actor in a leading role: Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler, with 56 percent

Actress in a leading role: Kate Winslet for The Reader, with 67 percent

Directing: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire, with 53 percent

Best Picture: Slumdog Millionaire, with 57 percent

Thanks to everyone who voted. We’ll see how closely our picks match the Academy’s this Sunday. Don’t forget to visit FreshLoaf during the Oscars for our live-blog!

(Photo courtesy Warner Brothers)

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POUND IT OUT: "Which way to the bar?"

The idea of an Academy Awards drinking game seems almost like a hindrance during a global economic downward spiral: won’t obeying pesky rules just impede our nightly, alcohol-fueled descent into sweet, sweet oblivion? If you want Oscar Party-inebriation to come sooner rather than later, consider taking a drink for every awkward appearance of a young Hollywood star like Zac Efron, or every time the orchestra cuts off an acceptance speech, or maybe just whenever someone says “And the Oscar goes to…” Or says “Oscar,” for that matter. Otherwise, here are some suggested rules for the 81st Academy Award show, airing on ABC at 8:30 p.m. Warning: if you get too drunk, you might miss our simultaneous Liveblogging on Fresh Loaf. (Oscar the Souse would like to acknowledge the suggestions of Kent Gash, William Goss and Doug Hamilton.)

• First, if host Hugh Jackman plugs his upcoming movie X-Men Origins: Wolverine, take a drink. If he does so by tearing open an Academy Award envelope with one of his adamantium claws, finish your drink.
• If Slumdog Millionaire wins Best Picture, drink tea from your party’s designated chai-wallah. But treat him with respect, because he might be able to buy and sell you by the end of the night.
• If Milk wins Best Picture, have a milk-based drink like a White Russian, but under no circumstances have a milkshake, because “I drink your milkshake” is just so pre-recession.
• If The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins Best Picture, drink a hurricane. You know, because of the Katrina themes? And the New Orleans setting? What – too soon?
• If Mickey Rourke wins Best Actor for The Wrestler, take a drink, inject your buttock with an unidentified steroid and shave your armpits before the rest of the party guest hit you with a folding chair and fire staple-guns at you.
• (more…)

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The 2009 Academy Awards may have the most predictable Oscar slate in recent memory: most of the likely winners look like they’ll carry their categories in a walk. But upsets happen every year, and the most surprising turn of events would be if nothing surprising happened. (By the way, did we mention that we’ll be Liveblogging the Oscars broadcast on Sunday night? We did? Just checking.) At any rate, here’s my complete list of predictions in every categories. And they’re my final answers, Anil Kapoor.

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

Prediction: Benjamin Button received the most nominations and has earned the most money at the box office, Milk has the greatest political cachet, but Slumdog Millionaire has the most momentum, having virtually swept the various Guild awards. Plus the movie actually leaves the audience feeling good, which can’t hurt at times like these.

Best Director: Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk)

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