Best Picture
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

PREDICTIONS

The Nominees

Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Benicio DelToro - Guerrilla Sean Penn - Milk Leonardo DiCaprio - Revolutionary Road
FOR HIM:  Overdue for recognition and left off the past few years for Good Night, and Good Luck & Starting Out in the Evening.  The veterans eventually get their due, right? FOR HIM: He's Brad Pitt which brings ultimate star power and he isn't a bad actor with one prior nomination to his credit.  He looks great in the trailer. FOR HIM: The win at Cannes has solidified his status as a bonafide contender.  Can he repeat with American audiences? FOR HIM: This Oscar winner has shown versatility over the years.  Taking on this biopic-homosexual role will be another one to add to his already impressive resume. FOR HIM: Soon becoming an Academy favorite teams up again with his on screen love, Kate Winslet.  A contemporary drama should give some scenery to chew.
AGAINST HIM: They don't always get their due.  Ask Peter O'Toole and Lauren Bacall and Hal Holbrook and etc. etc. etc. AGAINST HIM:  Stars don't always translate to Oscar nominees.  He'll need to really elevate the material.  AGAINST HIM: The film has been postponed before, could that be a sign of bad things to come.  Cannes doesn't necessarily equal Oscar. AGAINST HIM: Since he's won, he's given some powerful performances that have went unnoticed. He's not a big fan of award shows which hurts him. AGAINST HIM: He also has Ridley Scott's House of Lies which seems to be another leading role.  Vote split?
Don't Count Out
Richard Jenkins-The Visitor Hugh Jackman-Australia Daniel Craig - Defiance Viggo Mortensen-The Road Will Smith-Seven Pounds
FOR HIM: The only contender from the 1st half of the year that can still make an impact by year's end. (Independent Spirit?) FOR HIM: He'll be nominated someday but is need of the right role, is this it?  FOR HIM: He could be the next best thing and with his new James Bond film this year, it keeps him on voters minds. FOR HIM: Audiences loved him nominated for Eastern Promises.  He has many films coming this year, one of them is bound to snap. FOR HIM: Smith is a fine actor who (hopefully) will win an Oscar someday.  Nominated twice already shows he has industry support.
AGAINST HIM: Much bigger stars making a surge for the latter part of the year. AGAINST HIM: Baz usually works well for the ladies.  It'll need to more than technicals for him to be nominated. AGAINST HIM:  Hasn't really shown what he can do yet.  He needs the critics awards. AGAINST HIM: May fall in to a vote split problem. AGAINST HIM: How will the film be?  Are people really aching to give him a statue?
Also in Competition
George Clooney-Burn After Reading Philip Seymour Hoffman-Synecdoche, New York Ralph Fiennes-The Reader Leonardo DiCaprio-House of LIes Chiwetel Ejifor-Redbelt
Heath Ledger-The Dark Knight Michael Sheen-Frost/Nixon Josh Brolin-W Brendan Gleeson-Churchill at War Liam Neeson-The Other Man
   
 SUMMING IT UP:

Top 5 are still the same but talk about switch put some people in contention: Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight (which would be a bad move) and Michael Sheen for Frost/Nixon (which may also not work well)  We see Viggo make his first appearance in the Top 10 and Richard Jenkins in The Visitor seems like something that is likely to happen like Julie Christie last year in Away from Her.
BACK TO MAIN PAGE

 

The Tracker

May 1, 2008
Benicio Del Toro - Guerrilla Leonardo DiCaprio-Revolutionary Road Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon* Brad Pitt-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sean Penn-Milk

May 15, 2008
Benicio Del Toro - Guerrilla Leonardo DiCaprio-Revolutionary Road Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon* Brad Pitt-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sean Penn-Milk

June 1, 2008
Benicio Del Toro - Guerrilla Leonardo DiCaprio-Revolutionary Road Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon* Brad Pitt-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sean Penn-Milk

July 20, 2008
Benicio Del Toro - Guerrilla Leonardo DiCaprio-Revolutionary Road Frank Langella-Frost/Nixon* Brad Pitt-The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Sean Penn-Milk