Online Oscar contest winners named

In a year that saw the Academy Awards going several ways at once, correctly guessing 18 of the 24 categories was good enough to win the annual Spokesman-Review Oscar Contest.

Three entrants hit the mark of 18, and two of those tied by correctly predicting that the best picture winner, “No Country For Old Men,” would snare four awards in all. They share $100 movie gift certificates.

The third-place finisher, who failed to fill out the tie-breaker category, will receive a $25 movie gift certificate.

This was the first year that the S-R’s Oscar contest was held exclusively online. The result was that the three winners came from out of the area.

Overall winners Eric Thornton and Gerald Gronozio live, respectively, in California (Los Angeles) and New York (Long Island). Runner-up Daniel Gardabie lives in St. Louis, Mo.

Irv Engen was the top Spokane-area finisher. He tied with four other entrants by correctly guessing 17 categories.