Of the films, I enjoyed Slumdog the most, perhaps because I've spent time in Mumbai, and I really recognized the city in many of the shots.

But Penn ought to win best actor over Rourke. Anyone who's seen Sean Penn in other roles or in interviews can recognize what a complete transformation he made for the role in Milk. I am amazed at how deep he go into character and still emerge later. Mickey Rourke still hasn't gotten out of his The Wrestler character. There were radio reports this week that he was negotiating with WWE to appear in a match in Houston shortly. I suppose that has nothing to do with his movie peformance, but it's creepy . . . a little too close to what Robert Downey, Jr. parodied in Tropic Thunder.

I'd kind of like to see Gus van Sant NOT win for a whole host of reasons . . .