We're only a couple of weeks away from the 81st Annual Academy Awards, and here is my personal wish list for the ceremony. Please note these are NOT my predicitions. This is merely a list of films and folks I would like to see win an Oscar.

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE: MICKEY ROURKE

Why him? This is a tough one already, primarily because I also absoutely loved Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor." Still, to me personally, Rourke delivered the best performance of the year in "The Wrestler," and I would love to see him take home this golden statuette. He's nailed a wonderful comeback, and his efforts as Randy was just deeply moving and highly realistic.

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ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: HEATH LEDGER

Why him? No, I didn't pick him because people would hate me if I didn't. Although all five nominees REALLY deserve this award, I admit Ledger's flawless performance as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" left the strongest and most lasting impression on me. Everything about this role was perfect...

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ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE: ANNE HATHAWAY

Why her? This was a tough one as well. Although I really enjoyed Angelina Jolie in "Changeling," Anne Hathaway's excellent performance in "Rachel Getting Married" had a stronger impact on me. Even her role was way more complex than Jolie's; something I also like to consider when making my picks. Hathaway's performance is the epitome of a memorable big-screen drama performance.

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ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE: MARISA TOMEI

Why her? I love Marisa Tomei, I really do. She looks great, she can act, and her characters are often highly interesting to experience on the screen. Her performance in "The Wrestler" moved me as well, and I really bought her chemistry with Rourke.

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BEST DIRECTOR: DANNY BOYLE

Why him? Danny Boyle is a master in his field, and his direction in "Slumdog Millionaire" is innovative and strikingly intriguing. His expertise certainly helped give the film the compelling vibe and fast-paced plot, and he totally deserves this award. I also loved Fincher's and Van Sant's work, but Boyle surprised me the most this year.

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BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: THE READER

Why? Call me crazy, but looking solely at the screenplay, "The Reader" is the film that fascinated me the most. In other words, it was the film that got me thinking about its story the most. Hare's writing is intense and clever throughout, and he raises plenty of interesting issues that end up being beautifully examined in the movie.

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BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: IN BRUGES

Why? No, "In Bruges" is not my favorite film of the year, but McDonagh's writing is fabulously entertaining and just plain crazy. This script is filled with insane dialogue, memorable moments and hilarious characters, and you never really know where the story is heading. This is undoubtedly the most original one of this selection.

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BEST PICTURE: MILK

Why? Gus Van Sant's "Milk" will probably not win, but it remains my favorite among these five nominees. The film's story is one of major importance, Van Sant's direction is brilliant, Dustin Lance Black's writing makes for an incredibly entertaining and intense plot, and the cast turns in plenty of unique performances, led by the great Sean Penn as Harvey Milk. This is a fantastic film, and my personal winner among those nominated for best picture. (Note: I really wanted to pick "The Wrestler," but my final selection is limited to nominees only).

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BEST ANIMATED FILM: WALL-E

Why? This is an easy one. Although I really enjoyed "Bolt," Pixar's "WALL-E" is still one of my favorite films of 2008. Its sweetness captured my attention right away, and I found it impossible not to love the adventurous script, gorgeous animation and wonderful characters.

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BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY: THE DARK KNIGHT

Why? Wally Pfister's perfect cinematography plays a big role in how awesome "The Dark Knight" looks. While the cinematogrphy in "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" impressed me as well, Pfister's work is clearly a standout.

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BEST FILM EDITING: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Why? When I first saw the trailer for "Button," I was impressed by the film's gorgeous look. Sure, its cinematography plays a big role, but so does the editing, and Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall's work here is flawless.

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BEST VISUAL EFFECTS: IRON MAN

Why? This one goes to John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan for their work on "Iron Man." "The Dark Knight" boasts great visuals as well, but I felt "Man" included more action-loaded scenes requiring more work on the special effects. That's how I felt personally, at least.

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BEST MAKEUP: THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

Why? Sure, Heath Ledger's Joker makeup looked scary and awesome, but to me, Greg Cannom's work in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button reigns supreme. Making the cast age realistically is a challenge, but Cannom pulled this off majestically.

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BEST SOUND EDITING/MIXING: THE DARK KNIGHT

Why? Okay, maybe they turned up the sound exceptionally high during the screening of "The Dark Knight" I attended, but to me, the film boasted the best sound, period. "Wanted" came close, but Batman wins again.

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That's it. I didn't include the Best Foreign Film category because I didn't see all of them. Same for the documentary category. Feel free to leave your comments below, and if you would like, please include your own wish list. I'm curious to compare different opinions.

And as a final note, is anybody else out there pissed Clint Eastwood's "Gran Torino" isn't even mentioned once? And why the heck is "The Wrestler" not in that best picture category? Anyway, the Academy Awards will take place Feb. 22, 2009.