Oscar Prediction & Catagory Overlooks

On the DU, one of my favorite weekend places to post (it's too taxing most of the time during the week since they have a ton of virtual messages posted almost any minute), there is the Oscar Winner Prediction Pool. My picks (even if I have other preferences):

Picture: Brokeback Mountain

Director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

Actress: Reese Witherspoon in Walk the Line

Actor:Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote

Supporting Actress: Rachel Weisz in The Constant Gardener

Supporting Actor: George Clooney in Syriana

Animated feature film: Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Art direction: Pride & Prejudice

Cinematography: Brokeback Mountain

Costume design: Memoirs of a Geisha

Documentary feature: March of the Penguins

Documentary short subject: God Sleeps in Rwanda

Film editing: Munich

Foreign language film: Joyeux Noël

Makeup: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Original score: Brokeback Mountain (although Constant Gardner may be in close contention)

Original song: “Travelin’ Thru” from Transamerica (although I liked as well In the Deep)

skipping a few that I'm less familiar with.. and moving to:

Adapted screenplay: Munich

Original screenplay: Good Night, and Good Luck

Now for ones I thought were overlooked and were not nominated in their respective categories:


For best picture --Syrianna (this is the one that I thought should have won, but my next personal choice is Good Night, and Good Luck)

For best song(s)--"He Was a Friend of Mine" written by Bob Dylan, sung by Willie Nelson from Brokeback Mountain
"Nothing but the Wheel" sung by Peter Wolf--from Ice Harvest.
Aside: Why are there only 3 songs nominated this year? What's the rule on songs? Dylan wrote his tune a few years ago--is that why it wasn't included?

For best supporting actress--Connie Nielsen, Ice Harvest

For best supporting actor--Oliver Platt, Ice Harvest

For best actor--George Clooney, Syrianna

Aside: Maybe it is a plot for him to win best supporting actor or lead him to believe he'll win something for his acting (which I hope he does), although I am very fond of Jake Gyllenhaal's performance in Brokeback Mountain.

For best documentary(ies): Outfoxed Wal-Mart, the High Cost of Low Prices