Heidi Oringer's Oscar Predictions

Feb. 19 -- Try as I might, I just couldn't avoid it. I wore a hat, ate right, washed my hands several times a day, and wiped the phone each time someone else used it. Still … I caught it.

I have Oscar fever!

I am making my predictions early so, if I'm right, you can say you heard it here first. If I'm not right, well … that just can't happen because I've got someone's college tuition and a mortgage riding on my picks. (OK, maybe it's only a crisp $20, but times are tight!)

Chicago went haywire with 13 nominations, one shy of Titanic's record of 14. The only missing nod from the bunch here was one for Richard Gere.

On a high note, it's nice to see women rule as Gere's co-stars Renée Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Queen Latifah all garnered nominations. Everyone in the cast is saying it wouldn't have happened without the uncanny sensibilities of Rob Marshall, the film's director. They're probably right because, although their performances are strong, it's the whole sensory experience that makes this film a classic. We Owe One to Scorsese

Chicago will most certainly win Best Picture (prediction numero uno), but it's not likely that Mr. Marshall will see victory as its director, not because he doesn't deserve it, but because Martin Scorsese is nominated for Gangs of New York and the Oscar has eluded Martin on many occasions.

Whether he deserves it or not for Gangs, Scorsese is the sentimental favorite and he's practically a shoe-in (prediction numero dos). Of course the category is loaded with other talented men including Roman Polanski for The Pianist. No matter how good that film may be, let's face it, he isn't taking a Hollywood Holiday unless he wants to spend his latter days really living the HBO series, Oz.

In 1977, Polanski was embroiled in a scandal over having sex with a 13-year-old model, and rather than face the charges, he fled the country, where he's continued his career. If he steps onto U.S. soil, officials say he'll be arrested immediately. The Academy so poo-poos people who don't pick up their awards in person, so Roman's a no-show/no-go as far as I can see.