Oscar Choices

There are no chads to examine (instead voters mark an X for a choice), but that doesn't mean picking winners for the 73rd annual Academy Awards on Sunday, March 25 (ABC, 8:30 p.m. ET), is easy. Here's what—and who—deserves to walk away victorious on Oscar night.

BEST PICTURE

>Best Director Steven Soderbergh, Traffic Talk about being in the zone. Soderbergh deservedly picked up double nominations for Traffic and Erin Brockovich. The former takes more risks in its scope and storytelling, so here's hoping he wins for that.

Best Original Screenplay You Can Count on Me, by Ken Lonergan There was humor and heart to spare in this finely polished tale about two adult siblings.

Best Adapted Screenplay Wonder Boys, by Steve Kloves, based on a novel by Michael Chabon A wonderfully shaggy comedy set in academia earns a place of honor on the dean's list.

Best Foreign Language Film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon If it doesn't win Best Picture, it sure ought to land this one.

Best Costume Design Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas Because Jim Carrey still could be, gloriously, Jim Carrey under all the prosthetics and green fur.

Best Original Song Wonder Boys' "Things Have Changed," music and lyrics by Bob Dylan Don't even think twice, it's all right.