It's a weird year for the Oscars, and the just-ended writers' strike and subsequent scramble to pull together a viable show are perhaps the least of it.

There are no blockbusters among this year's five Best Picture nominees; the indie "Juno" is the only one to crack $100 million in ticket sales. There's precious little star power in the acting categories -- no Julia or Brad, and while there is a Tom, it's Wilkinson, not Hanks or Cruise.

And the Oscars have been downright boring in recent years, pretty much since Adrien Brody spontaneously laid a big ol' smooch on Halle Berry in 2003. Thank God (or is it George Burns?) for Oscar pools, the best way to enliven a night that promises to stretch from here to eternity.

This year's major categories are virtually locked up: actor Daniel Day-Lewis, actress Julie Christie and supporting actor Javier Bardem are widely considered locks, while the Coen brothers and "No Country for Old Men" are heavy favorites for best director and picture.

Which means that winning a traditional Oscar pool will come down to the minor categories, animated shorts, art direction and the like. Or this might be the year to forgo the usual pool and come up with your own categories. Either way, we're here to help, with advice from pool guru Cynthia Dickison, tips on where to get information to help you win and a few suggestions for alternative Oscar-pool categories.

There's nothing else new on television these days. And it is the Oscars.

Besides, interest in these parts should be high, even if the hubbub involves former Minnesotans. Joel and Ethan Coen and Diablo Cody might have moved away, but we still like them -- we really, really like them.

Bill Ward • 612-673-7643; Staff Writer Randy A. Salas contributed to this report.

It's how you think, not how you feel (Editor's note: Cynthia Dickison has finished in the top three of the Star Tribune newsroom's Oscar pool every year since its 1990 inception.)

Lead with your head, not your heart.

That's the mantra I've followed from my first (winning) effort in 1990, when, having seen only a few of the nominated films and performances, I relied by necessity on the wisdom of experts. Nowadays, even though I've seen them all, I wouldn't dare pick my favorite, "Atonement," against the juggernaut that is "No Country for Old Men" for best picture, and neither should you.

There are resources aplenty for divining the results of the major races: previous honors (Golden Globes, Screen Actors Guild, Directors Guild, various film critics' awards); websites breathlessly devoted to every prevailing wind, and the oddsmaker sites (see accompanying list). But beyond the inevitable hand-wringing over one of the supporting categories (actress, this year), it's the small categories that will make or break your entry.

The most comprehensive and accessible information on the dreaded best documentary short/sound mixing/visual effects subgroup is at Entertainment Weekly (www.ew.com or current print issue), which offers educated guesswork at its best. It provides a handy tutorial on the difference in the sound categories, the astounding correlation between the awards for editing and best picture, and what constitutes great art direction (and just what art direction is). It's not foolproof, but remains the go-to spot for the categories most of us know zilch about.

Finally, a tip: Don't dismiss "Norbit" in the makeup category; Rick Baker is the master (and six-time winner) at making people -- especially Eddie Murphy -- look like another species entirely.

CYNTHIA DICKISON

Odds: Go to www.bodoglife.com/sports-betting/tv-film-movie-props.jsp or www.easyodds.com/compareodds/specials/g/231/tc/344/oscars-betting.html. All things Oscar: The best bet is Tom O'Neill's L.A. Times blog, "The Envelope" (theenvelope.latimes.com). Not far behind are www.awardsdaily.com and www.theoscarigloo.com.

The minor categories: Check out the bios of nominees, and their Oscar history, at www.imdb.com. Or check out expert analyst Scott Feinberg's blog at andthewinneris.blog.com.

For help: Former Twin Citian David Carr's "Carpetbagger" (carpetbagger. blogs.nytimes.com) and the estimable Roger Ebert (rogerebert. suntimes.com).

For laughs: At the other end of the quality spectrum (or so Hollywood likes to think) are the Golden Raspberry Awards (www.razzies.com).

OSCAR POOLS ALTERNATE CATEGORIES / CREATE YOUR OWN POOL

SUBJECTIVE

Best outfit (women)

Penélope Cruz

Reese Witherspoon

Helen Miren

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Best outfit (men)

George Clooney

Daniel Craig

Mark Wahlberg

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Best hair (women)

Naomi Watts

Katie Holmes

Jennifer Lopez

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Best hair (men)

George Clooney

Casey Affleck

James McAvoy

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Most attractive date/ mate (not a thespian)

Keira Knightley's

Amy Adams'

Julian Schnabel's

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"FIRST"

First to be shown with a nontraditional date (mom, sibling, same-sex partner)

George Clooney

Angelina Jolie

Michelle Williams

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First winner to cry

Ellen Page

Diablo Cody

Amy Ryan

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First nominee to reveal disappointment via split-screen shot upon not winning

Marion Cotillard

Diablo Cody

Tony Gilroy

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First winner to make a political statement

Diablo Cody

Daniel Day-Lewis

George Clooney

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TIMING

The Oscar winner who talks the longest after the band has cued up

Brad Bird

Daniel Day-Lewis

Julie Christie

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Who gets the longest, loudest cheer during the tribute segment

Heath Ledger

Roy Scheider

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What time Jack Nicholson first removes his shades

-----------------

Which Coen brother talks the longest (3 seconds is the record) in the event they win

Joel

Ethan

What time the ceremony ends

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OVER-UNDER

The writers' strike will be mentioned 10 times

Exactly

More

Fewer

Number of foreign-born individuals winning in the four major acting categories

One

Two

Three

Four

Someone will point out the lack of black nominees (one: Ruby Dee) three years after the Academy's self-lovefest on the topic

Yes

No

Hal Holbrook (best supporting actor) will do a one-armed pushup if he wins

Yes

No

DIABLO CODY

Color of her outfit

Black

Leopard print

Purple

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Color(s) of her hair

Blonde

Black

Black and red

Black and white

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Does she mention her estranged husband if she wins

Yes

No

Does she mention Minnesota if she wins

Yes

No

Does she says "Silencio, old men" if the band starts up during her acceptance speech

Yes

No