If you haven't already done so, check out our Oscar contest blog, our live-blog headquarters and our posts about a might-have-been-an-Oscar-winning film in this year's Gasparilla International Film Festival.
And for your further Oscar edification, here are some stories (and predictions) worth checking out before the show:
On EW.com, Dave Karger's provocative speculations about the ten biggest possible upsets — good fodder for your last-minute Oscar-pool votes
In the NY Times: A.O. Scott's grouchy assessment of the awards' irrelevance — and, on the other hand, David Carr's view that, In Times Like These, "there's nothing quite like gathering around something warm and sparkly when the darkness seems to be intruding at every turn." (And you've got to check out his inimitable Oscar vlog, The Carpetbagger and his awards predictions delivered on location in Times Square, where he tries valiantly to find anyone else who's interested in the subject.)
In the Tampa Tribune, Jeff Houck's clever suggestions for Oscar-nominee food pairings for your awards-party buffet: Samosas for Slumdog, the Piledriver for The Wrestler, and Baby Ruth Brownies for Hellboy II: The Golden Army. (Yes, believe it or not, Hellboy II: The Golden Army is an Oscar nominee for Best Makeup, and if you know Hellboy, you'll know why the Baby Ruths.)
On VF.com, Annie Leibovitz's gorgeous photos of award-winning actor/director teams, including a haunting shot of Heath Ledger and Dark Knight director Christopher Nolan. See two shots after the jump.
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2009.