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THIS SECTION IS IN DEVELOPMENT. CHECK
BACK SOON FOR FRESH CONTENT!
Further updates on this page as the season progresses.
Only films on the
main or small films tracker are included for BP and BD
No particular order; Major contenders in bold
Best Picture
|
Title |
Pros |
Cons |
| The Dark Knight |
If any comic adaptation were ever to hit, this one would be it |
Thanks to Slumdog, it's probably going to be shut out |
| Slumdog Millionaire |
It's hit everything else. There's absolutely no reason it should
miss here. |
Is it really THAT good? |
| Milk |
Van Sant's masterpiece biopic |
It's not making quite as big a splash as it should |
| Frost/Nixon |
The play comes to screen beautifully |
It's much lower profile than it should be. |
| Revolutionary Road |
Leo and Kate back together again |
A little on the manufactured side |
| The Reader |
Despite its bad ratings, it's backed by WeinCo, which means it's a
contender |
If there is any sense in AMPAS at all, they'll pick Kate out and
leave the messy rest. |
| Benjamin Button |
A chaotic but wonderful mess of a film |
Do people get this? |
| Doubt |
Solid, traditional Oscat bait |
Solid, traditional Oscar bait |
| Gran Torino |
Eastwood probably has a wing of the AMPAS offices named for him |
Ego ego ego |
Best Director
| Name/Film |
Pros |
Cons |
| David Fincher/Benjamin Button |
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| Christopher Nolan/TDK |
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| Ron Howard/Frost/Nixon |
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| Gus Van Sant/Milk |
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| Danny Boyle/Slumdog Millionaire |
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| Sam Mendes/Revolutionary Road |
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Best Actor
| Name/Film |
Pros |
Cons |
| Mickey Rourke/Wrestler |
While we're watching comebacks, this is a great one, and a perfect
role for him |
Very small film with late-breaking interest |
| Sean Penn/Milk |
This was a foregone conclusion as soon as casting was announced |
Sean Penn is ubiquitous |
| Brad Pitt/Button |
Pitt goes serious, and plays a LOT of range |
Can they take him seriously enough? |
| Dev Patel/Slumdog |
The star of the show |
More likely to go supporting |
| Javier Bardem/Vicky Cristina |
Bardem is great in anything |
Too bad the film itself was weak |
| Frank Langella/Frost/Nixon |
Langella is a way-overdue character actor who finally found his
perfect role |
Possibly a bit too much scenery chewing |
| Colin Farrell/In Bruges |
A great comic role in an underrated film |
Way too low-profile, even after the Globes |
| Clint Eastwood/Gran Torino |
The Godfather of film has another go--back to his roots |
Clint, would you just retire already? |
| Josh Brolin/W |
An uncanny and unflinching portrayal of the monkey man |
The film itself flopped |
| Leo DiCaprio/Revolutionary Road |
Probably his best role since The Aviator |
If the film gets a nom, he's in. If not, it's just Kate's show. |
Best Actress
Candidates in this category often come from films
that otherwise don't come off well. So few standout lead roles for
women happen every year that a lot of otherwise sub-par films produce
award contending actresses. Therefore reviews alone don't settle this
pack out until critics' awards start coming in.
| Name/Film |
Pros |
Cons |
| Angelina Jolie/Changeling |
The shining star of a lackluster film. Definitely some of her best
work |
The film itself fell over and died |
| Meryl Streep/Doubt |
It's Meryl. Being crotchety. |
Meryl AGAIN? Please. |
| Anne Hathaway/Rachel Getting Married |
Her first serious go is a winner. |
But it is her first serious go. |
| Kate Winslet/Revolutionary Road |
This is Kate's year. Expect her to get both noms, and a win for this |
Is this really the film they want to reward her for? |
| Sally Hawkins/Happy-Go-Lucky |
Breakout star of a universally loved film |
Critics loved it. But did anyone else even see it? |
| Cate Blanchett/Benjamin Button |
The lovely and always-perfect Cate hits another one |
Is it really her year again? |
Supporting roles often don't really break out
of the pack until later in the year.
Best Supporting Actor
| Name/Film |
Pros |
Cons |
| Philip Seymour Hoffman/Doubt |
Perennial favorite in another great role |
Hoffman again? |
| Heath Ledger/TDK |
Phenomenal performance from a tragically lost talent who was robbed
in his lead year |
Some may see this solely as a tribute, and not want to award on that
basis |
| Josh Brolin/Milk |
Good guy gone bad guy, with a stellar couple of years |
May be too soon for another nom |
| Robert Downey, Jr./Tropic Thunder |
Daring, way out there comic role for the comeback kid. May be an
alternative to nominating him for Iron Man |
Have AMPAS members even seen this film? |
| James Franco/Milk |
A rare serious role from the charming and handsome Franco |
Too much competition and not a juicy enough role |
| Dev Patel/Slumdog Millionaire |
The real star of this critical darling film |
Very unknown |
| Brad Pitt/Burn After Reading |
A hilarious parody role in a so-so Coens comedy |
He'll get most of the attention for Button |
| Michael Sheen/Frost/Nixon |
Both of the main roles in this should get noms, though the film
itself may escape others. |
Very unknown, and the film isn't making as big a splash as it should |
Best Supporting Actress
| Name/Film |
Pros |
Cons |
| Amy Adams/Doubt |
A serious turn from the comic genius |
Not quite as good as might be hoped; film is underperforming |
| Penelope Cruz/Vicky Cristina |
The shining light in an otherwise-dull Allen flick |
AMPAS is quite bored with Allen |
| Viola Davis/Doubt |
A key role in the not-quite-great film |
Unknown; lower-profile film |
| Rosemarie DeWitt/Rachel Getting Married |
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| Taraji P. Henderson/Benjamin Button |
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| Freida Pinto/Slumdog Millionaire |
Very high-profile film |
Ensemble of unknowns may not produce any individuals |
| Marisa Tomei/The Wrestler |
Tomei is back, and shines in a role nearly made for her |
Have enough AMPAS members seen this? |
| Debra Winger/Rachel Getting Married |
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| Kate Winslet/The Reader |
This is basically a lock |
The film itself is underperforming |
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