(43-182) Diving In

When I wrote "Oscar On My Mind," I told you that I was on the fence about hosting another Oscar pool; BUT, in the long run, I had decided that I would go ahead and do it.  At first I'd planned to email the previous participants prior to The Golden Globes; but alas, that didn't happen.  I then changed my game plan, and was going to send an email after The Awkward Awards, (aka the Golden Globes;) and I went so far as to take my notebook to Kelsie's soccer practice, so that I could draft the letter.  I started writing the email, but got sidetracked and I was unable to finish.  Fast forward to today, and much to my dismay, the email had still not been sent.

Shame on me!  I'm falling short.  So much so, that I wouldn't have even known that the Oscar nominations were announced today, had my cousin, Jackie not mentioned it to me.  Right after I heard; I went directly to Oscar.com and sure enough, there were the nominations.  I wasn't happy to see that the Academy is persisting with an excessive ten nominations in the Best Picture category.  I think the only thing that wasn't nominated was "Sex & The City 2."  I've had mixed feelings about James Franco as an Oscar co-host; and the fact that he's garnered himself a Best Actor nomination to boot; just makes the situation even that much more curious to me.  It's not that I have anything against James Franco; but to me, there's something unsettling about him.  It seems that he is a multi-talented man, acting, writing, obtaining multiple graduate degrees from various Universities in a multitude of disciplines.  He's making Oscar nominated films AND, he's currently playing a serial killer on "General Hospital;" I don't get it.  And now to top it off he's co-hosting the Oscars??  I dunno, there's just something a little too peculiar about this to me; and I just can't put my finger on it; but you know me - I will.  As for Anne Hathaway; the other co-host; I enjoy her as an actress, I do; but again I'm not sure that she's Oscar co-host material.  Let's face it; just because she was in Hugh Jackman's opening number for a hot minute, two Academy Awards ago; doesn't mean that she's ready to co-host an entire show; especially with someone else who has no hosting experience. Hmmm, maybe this is my hesitation about The Oscars; ya think?

Without having seen any of the nominated films other than "Toy Story 3" thus far; I'm going to go out on a limb and predict that Natalie Portman will win for Best Actress in "Black Swan."  Colin Firth will win for Best Actor in "The King's Speech," and Toy Story 3" will win for Best Animated Feature Film.  I may recant these predictions after I actually do some research; but hey, I have to start somewhere.  AND, if I really want to have an Oscar pool this year; then I need to get that email out to my swimmers once and for all.  I'm diving in.  Let me know if you care to join me.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING