By Ashley Whillans, Arts Editor he verdict is in. In honour of this year’s Academy Awards, The Other Press is presenting its favourite nominees with An Other Press Oscar for their outstanding achievement in film, direction, acting, or for any other reasons we felt like nominating them! Favourites amongst voters here at The Other Press include Heath Ledger, who received a whopping ten nominations from Matt who decided to keep it simple and only vote for Heath, “because he has to at least win one.” Other favourites included Kate Winslet who received an accolade for her performance in The Reader from just about everyone, as did the feel good success story of the year, Slum Dog Millionaire. Regardless of who-won-what on Sunday, nominees will go home happy knowing that even if they didn’t win the trophy of their dreams, thanks to The Other Press they will win at least something, or at the very least enjoy complimentary champagne all night on Oscar’s behalf, softening the crushing the blow of defeat until about 11 a.m. the next morning. As I am beginning to hear the “shut- the-hell-up-and-get-off-stage” music ringing in my ears, let me get to it; here we go, the 2009 Official Other Press Oscar Picks, (insert drum roll here) And the winners are... Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire After experiencing Little Miss Sunshine- esque Success, Slumdog Millionaire is the little-movie-that-could, easily beating out its competition. “Movies like Slumdog Millionaire don't come along often enough. Movies like the other four get made every freaking year.” —Mark Fisher Best Actor Mickey Rourke for The Wrestler “Mickey Rourke for the Wrestler. 1 think pretending to be in pain is one of the hardest acting jobs to do, and Rourke pretended to be in pain for the entire film.” —Mark Fisher “T'd like to disagree. With the kind of drugs he’s been on, and sort of meds he’s probably on now just to be off what he was taking before, he most likely was in pain the entire time—good thing for him the Academy Awards appreciates method acting.” —Ashley Whillans “Rourke takes the cake as a washed up actor playing a washed up sports star. He was really the right man for the job.” —Jay Schreiber Best Actress Kate Winslet for The Reader The closest category this year, Winslet barely beats outs Angelina’s performance in Changeling! Hopefully Winslet remembers Angelina’s name while thanking the other nominees during her acceptance speech this time around, otherwise one of these days Brangelina just might unleash the kiddies on Kate... “Anne, Kate, Angelina, and Meryl are all Oscar-worthy. I'll pick Angelina by a hair, but I'll be happy with whoever wins.” —Mark Fisher “Having never won a golden man before, it seems almost sure that the Academy will choose Kate Winslet for her performance in The Reader to take home her first Oscar.” —Jay Schreiber Best Supporting Actor Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight Ledger wins the trophy, but Downey wins the people’s hearts, sort of? No matter the results, this category caused a lot of commotion amongst voters. “Ledger. And if anyone complains about how he’s only getting it because he’s dead, you don't know squat. The Dark Knight was one of the best films of the year and should have gotten nominated for Best Picture instead of the over-rated Benjamin Button.” —Mark Fisher “To say that Heath Ledger is the most qualified to win in this year’s supporting actor category is an understatement, but on the flip side, it would be hilarious to see Robert Downy Jr. win for his role in Tropic Thunder, a movie poking fun at movie culture in general.” —Jay Schreiber But not everyone thought Ledger deserved the award... “Yes, the Joker was easily his personal best role, but up against everyone else in his category I question whether he is really top dog. No disrespect intended, but if Heath Ledger wins the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor it will be hard for me to resist feeling like it was a jaded decision; a clemency win, to be blunt.” —Chloé Bach And Robert Downey Jr. had some straight-up - haters... “Robert Downey Jr. for Tropic Thunder? You have to be joking me. Someone tell the Academy or whoever makes these decisions to stop holding nomination sessions in opium dens! Seriously?! I saw four minutes of this movie. I’m convinced it shouldn't be here.” —Shaylee Perez Best Supporting Actress Bid. Penelope Cruz for Vicky Cristina Barcelona Honourable mention to Marisa Tomei, though; for fear of being called an anti- Marisa Tomei conspirator by one of the voters after unintentionally leaving her out of the list nominees (oops), I have given her an honourable mention for her work in The Wrestler. Best Director Tie; Gus Van Sant for Milk and Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire “It’s got to be hard to direct little kids to do the things they did in this film.” —Mark Fisher Best Animated Feature Film Wall-E “This is the easiest pick this year, there’s no way it can't win.” — Mark Fisher “T refuse to vote for an animated movie because they all suck.” —Shaylee Perez Best Adapted Screenplay Slumdog Millionaire Best Original Screenplay Tie; Milk and Happy Go Lucky Although it was an “official tie” due to the fact that one of the voters comments read “the title of Happy Go Lucky is catchy” as a reason to why they chose it, 1 am going to count Milk as the winner. “Tt has to win something.” —Mark Fisher So there we have it; Slumdog Millionaire is the biggest winner overall, winning for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Director (tie) while Heath Ledger, Kate Winslet and Wall-E easily overtake their competitors. Seems to me the only surprises or wild card categories this year are Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor (I’m rooting for Rourke) and Best Supporting Actress, whom our voters seemed a little bit unsure about. That concludes The Other Press Official Oscar Picks for 2009—and while you’re at it, be sure to check out our top Razzie picks, for the year’s worst films!