2009 Oscar Best Contenders Part 8: Best Picture

And here we are, the Oscar for Best Picture. Arguably the most prestigious award any film can ever hope to receive. We have five strong films here, and this is going to be good. Let's look at the nominees:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - When Forrest Gump came out 13 years ago, it swept the Oscars, arriving with a record setting 13 nominations and leaving with 6 Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Picture. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has been compared to Forrest Gump, both in it's storyline, it's epic scope, and it's devotion to telling a story about American life. This film has 13 nominations going into tonight, the exact same as Forrest Gump. How many will it take home?

Frost/Nixon - Admittedly the underdog in this race. Ron Howard's adaptation of the play of the same name is led largely by the performances of the two leading actors, which makes it a long-shot for taking home the win.

Milk - Put a brilliant actor and a brilliant director together and what to do get? This film, which chronicles the life and death of Harvey Milk, California's first openly gay elected official. This film has been getting heaps of praise for it's portrayal and of Sean Penn's award-winning performance. This film wasn't nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture, with Revolutionary Road taking it's place.

The Reader - Nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Picture as well, this period piece, wouldn't have been up here without Kate Winslet.

Slumdog Millionaire - Is this film really the underdog that people are claiming it to be? Slumdog Millioniare may have been a small film, especially compared to the gargantuan budget of Benjamin Button, but this movie has already taken home numerous awards including a Golden Globe for Best Picture. With critics fawning all over this film, it looks to be Slumdog's year.

Conclusion: I choose Slumdog Millionaire, Regis. And, yes, that's my final answer.