Oscars and sickness

I called in sick today to the waiting tables job, the first time I've called in sick in my 5 years there. Yes, my stomach problems are that bad. I worked last night but ended up doing a lot of doubling over in pain and grimacing throughout the evening. I feel better now, and won't go into too many gory details, but I think I'll be able to make my Oscar party tonight if I'm able to stay normal for the next couple of hours. But maybe not, as well. There's a chance I'll even take a sick day from school tomorrow, because going in with a little cold is one thing, but going in when really gross things are coming out of your body at inopportune times is something I've never done and probably don't want to start tomorrow.

Since I'm feeling better now and not laying in a fetal position on my bed, I rented Michael Clayton off of I-Tunes. It was a decent movie. I don't quite understand Tilda Swinton's Oscar nomination - didn't anyone else notice her wavering American accent? - but she was pretty great in that last scene with Clooney. Decent movie, but doesn't deserve to upset in the Best Picture race.

I've now seen 4 of the 5 nominees for Best Picture, and am still rooting for There Will Be Blood. I have little desire to see Atonement. How in the world does James McAvoy keep getting great roles? I hold him to the same esteem as I do Orlando Bloom - some ninny young actor who somehow gets a lot of great roles early in his career without paying his dues.

And here are my Oscar predictions:

Best Picture
Should win: There Will Be Blood: Great film that I still can't get out of my mind.
Will win: No Country for Old Men: The Coen Brothers' 3rd or 4th best film of their career. It's alright.
Should have been nominated: Into the Wild: The Best Movie of the year, as far as I'm concerned. Sean Penn took a nearly unfilmmable book and made it work.

Best Actor:
Should win: Daniel Day Lewis: If only for that scene in the church. Wow.
Will win: Daniel Day Lewis: Seems like he has the momentum
Should have been nominated: Emile Hirsch: His turn in Into the Wild was really, really good.

Best Actress:
Should win: Laura Linney: I didn't see the movie but I think she's just about the best actress alive.
Will win: Julie Christie: She's good, but I'm not that into Disease-of-the-Week movies. The movie was just alright.
Should have been nominated: Keri Russell: She was good in that pie movie and it would have been neat to see Felicity nominated.

Best Supporting Actress
Should win: Amy Ryan: Maybe she'll mention The Wire in her acceptance speech.
Will win: Tilda Swinton: This one is a horse race. I think Swinton will win it.
Should have been nominated: Catherine Keener in Into the Wild

Best Supporting Actor
Should win: Hal Holbrook: He was heartbreaking and he's old. I love when old people give speeches at the Oscars.
Will win: Javier Bardem: Whatever. He was good and scary.
Should have been nominated: Nate Parker, The Great Debaters: He's a star in the making; Paul Dano, There Will Be Blood: He blew me away; Steven Wiig, Into the Wild - was great at Catherine Keener's husband.

Diablo Cody deserves her Best Script award. I'll be rooting for PTA to win Best Adapted Script, but the Coen Brothers will win it. They'll also win Best Direction, which is fine - they've been around a long time and have had great careers.

I'm going to buy some play-dough.