Changeling (Tom Stern), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Claudio Miranda), The Dark Knight (Wally Pfister), The Reader (Chris Menges, Roger Deakins), Slumdog Millionaire (Anthony Dod Mantle)

Jim's take

We only drove three hours because we got lost.

As for this category: I must be reading this one wrong, Roger Deakins only has one nomination, and it's a collaborative one? Tsk tsk.

Changeling was really beautifully shot -- they did the whole "The Aviator" thing where they manipulated the look to match films of the period. Button was shot on video, and was overall kind of dark for my liking. I don't know if it was poor projection, or simply a false memory based on my general disdain as I watched the film.... The Reader was nice, but Deakins doesn't have that Sven Nykvist-like ability to create inspirational cinematography from what is, essentially, a straightforward drama.

That leave us with Batman and Slumdog. Slumdog was electric, through and through. Fantastic camerawork, a vibrant palette, an innovative use of mixed media.

Unfortunately for Mr. Dod Mantle, that just ain't enough. This award belongs to Mr. Pfister (The Dark Knight). It's not fair, because he has those IMAX shots on his side, but technically the photography is simply perfect.

Jesse's take

Slumdog is starting to rack up the awards (Golden Globes, Producers Guild), and is looking like the big winner on Oscar night. But will it sweep through hard enough to snatch this award out of Pfister's pfist? I say no - The Dark Knight wins.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Hellboy II: The Golden Army

Jim's take

Let's see, Hellboy is a pretty obvious choice here.... The Dark Knight, with all that Joker makeup, that was pretty crazy.... and then we have the Brad Pitt Button factor. I'm just going to say Button. Seriously, 13 nominations. It's going to win a few.

Jesse's take

I'm torn this year. Usually I just go with whatever movie has Eddie Murphy in the fat suit, but Meet Dave is conspicuously absent. He wore a fat suit in that movie at some point, right?

The Dark Knight getting nominated is kind of funny - it was like people wanted so much to vote for Poor Dead Heath Ledger's performance, that they also nominated his lipstick. Now here is the question you have to ask yourself: Hellboy and TCCOBB definitely had better, or at least MORE, makeup effects. I can't think of any makeup in TDK except for Poor Dead Heath Ledger's lipstick. But if Poor Dead Heath Ledger's lipstick wins this award, will either of us be surprised?

Still, this probably goes to TCCOBB and Brad Pitt's old age makeup.

WALL-E, Happy-Go-Lucky, Frozen River, In Bruges, Milk

Jim's take

Let me tell you how much In Bruges sucked. From top to bottom, an ill-conceived film. It's Golden Globeness and nomination here are a true shock to me. I barely got through it. So, clearly not my choice.

WALL-E was getting Best Picture nomination buzz, was voted the top film of many year-end critics' polls, and is a lock for this category. My personal preference would be Milk, but cute robots always beat gay people.

Jesse's take

WALL-E is a bold choice. If the academy hadn't made a Best Animated Film ghetto to stick it in, do you think it gets an actual Best Picture nomination? However, you are wrong about this category, and here is why: WALL-E was basically a silent film for the first half of the movie. There is no dialogue. And if there is anything we should have learned from Juno's win last year in this category, its that this award is actually for the screenplay that has the most words in it, regardless of whether or not those words are any good. Milk is the winner.