It's just hours before the ceremony, so yeah, I guess it's a little last-minute to be laying out my final Oscar predictions. But this year, maybe even more than last year, the winners of Best Director and Best Picture are foregone conclusions-- it is written, you might say.

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
It's good to just see most of these directors nominated, with David Fincher and Danny Boyle both scoring their first nominations, and Stephen Daldry setting a pretty remarkable record, getting nominated for Best Director for all three of his features. But this award is Danny Boyle's, and he'll be so happy up there on the stage, no one will wish it had gone to anyone else.
And the winner is: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
The chai wallah takes it. No explanation really necessary.
And the winner is: Slumdog Millionaire