Oscar nominations Thursday–my predictions today
Here we go!
BEST PICTURE:
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“The Dark Knight”
“Frost/Nixon”
“Milk”
“Slumdog Millionaire”
(Does “Wall-E” have the momentum to crack the Top Five? Probably not, as voters know they can nominate it for Best Animated Feature, where it will win in a landslide over “Bolt” and “Kung Fu Panda.” Or “Space Chimps.” Just kidding about the chimps.)
BEST ACTRESS:
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married”
Sally Hawkins, “Happy Go Lucky”
Melissa Leo, “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep, “Doubt”
Kate Winslet, “Revolutionary Road”
(I’m still holding out hope for Kristin Scott-Thomas in “I’ve Loved You So Long.” This was my favorite performance by any actress this year. But she seems to be falling off the radar.)
BEST ACTOR:
Clint Eastwood, “Gran Torino”
Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon”
Sean Penn, “Milk”
Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
(Richard Jenkins deserves a nod, but I’m afraid not enough Academy voters found the time or interest to spin their screener of “The Visitor.”)
BEST DIRECTOR:
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Fincher, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
Christopher Nolan, “The Dark Knight”
Gus Van Sant, “Milk”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Josh Brolin, “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder”
Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt”
Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Dev Patel, “Slumdog Millionaire”
(Darkhorse candidate: Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”)
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Viola Davis, “Doubt”
Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
(Winslet’s character disappears for a good period of of time–but it’s still a lead performance. The sixth contender here is Amy Adams for “Doubt.”)
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY:
Woody Allen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Dustin Lance Black, “Milk”
Jenny Lumet, “Rachel Getting Married”
Robert D. Siegel, “The Wrestler”
Andrew Stanton and Jim Reardon, “Wall-E”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY:
Simon Beaufoy, “Slumdog Millionaire”
David Hare, “The Reader”
Peter Morgan, “Frost/Nixon”
Eric Roth, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
John Patrick Shanley, “Doubt’
(The Nolan brothers might get a nod for “The Dark Knight.” Dominant theory on the Internet: Eric Roth plugged in his “Forrest Gump” screenplay to his “Benjamin Button” script. There are myriad mirror elements in the two stories.)
January 21st, 2009 at 10:17 pm
I really want to see Mickey Rourke win. He’s the epitome of the classic ‘Hollywood come-back’ story.
January 21st, 2009 at 11:11 pm
I kind of wish there were more dark horses out there, for the academy voters to flex their ever-growing “indie”-muscle. I have a feeling that there just wont be all to many surprises tomorrow morning. It’s a shame that two very overrated movies “…Benjamin Button” and “Frost/Nixon” have to comprise such a large bulk of the nominations. I long for the day when the oscars can abandon these obligatory “conservative’ votes for movies by Ron Howard and the like…
January 22nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
Hey, Richard. How about Michelle Williams performance for Wendy and Lucy? I think she also deserves to get nominated as well, she was just so amazing on it. I can only hope..
January 22nd, 2009 at 8:16 am
I hope Richar Jenkins makes it to the final five, i deserves it so much!! Crossed fingers from Venezuela!!