With 10 days to go, the most intriguing Academy Award race may be in the Best Actor category. Sean Penn has earned most of the critics' prizes and the SAG Award. But back-from-career-death Mickey Rourke took the Golden Globe (OK, it's decided by a small band of foreign press) and then last weekend the British version of the Academy Awards. It's prompted folks like Pete Hammond at the LA Times' The Envelope to ponder the possiblity of an upset.

Otherwise, it looks like "Slumdog Millionaire" has a headlock on Best Picture and that the late Heath Ledger will win for Best Supporting Actor. I'm pulling for the oft-nominated Kate Winslet to finally win Best Actress. I have no strong feelings about Best Supporting Actress, but I am looking forward to Hugh Jackman (pictured here) as host. He's a handsome charmer, and I'm confident he can handle this.

BTW, if you're looking for Oscar info and analysis, I suggest sites, such as The Envelope, the New York Times' The Carpetbagger and moviecitynews.com.

Here are other tidbits before the Feb. 22 show:

[Photo: ABC, Just Jared]

• Hugh Jackman says he was like a "stunned mullet" when he got the call to host this year's show.
• Speaking of Jackman, a trailer featuring the hunky actor in a publicity spot for the show will be seen in 11,000 theaters starting Friday. (Hope that includes those in our area.)
• Peter Gabriel, who's song "Down to Earth" has a Best Song nomination from "Wall-E," has withdrawn from performing at the show.
• As of this weekend, Best Picture contender "Milk" still hasn't returned to local cinemas. It comes out on DVD and Blu-Ray March 10, well after Academy Awards are handed out. One other MIA note: "Doubt" with its multiple acting nominations isn't in town anymore, either.

Here's where Oscar nominated films are playing this weekend, starting Friday:

• "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" -- Sierra Vista Cinemas in Clovis (6:45 p.m.)
• "Frost/Nixon" -- Sierra Vista Cinemas (11:45 a.m., 5:15 p.m.)
• "Slumdog Millionaire" -- Edwards Stadium 22 at Riverpark (12:20 p.m., 3:15 p.m., 6:10 p.m. and 9:05 p.m.); Sierra Vista Cinemas (10:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:45 p.m.)
• "The Reader" -- Regal Manchester Stadium 16 (12:40 p.m., 3:45 p.m., 6:40 p.m. and 9:50 p.m.)

You can decide for yourself if Rourke should win. "The Wrestler" is at Regal Manchester (10:55 a.m., 1:50 p.m., 4:35 p.m., 7:25 p.m. and 10:05 p.m.) and at Sierra Vista (2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.)

"Bolt," with its Best Animated Feature nom, still is at the UA Clovis Town Center (Noon, 2:20 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.)

PREVIOUSLY ON THE BEEHIVE
- Oscar Central: Your Countdown to the 81st Academy Awards
- "Slumdog Millionaire:" Could controversy turn off Oscar?
- Does Mickey Rourke want to lose the Oscar?
- How badly do Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt want Oscars?
- Is "Slumdog Millionaire a lock for Oscar best picture?
- My Oscar reax this morning: I bet Felicia is SO ticked off ...
- What were they thinking?
- Wolverine will host the next Academy Awards