OK, we're getting closer and closer to N-Day: the Oscar nominations will be announced on January 22nd, with the Awards ceremony Sunday February 24th.
I still have yet to see some likely contenders, but I'll make some guesses anyway, though I'll probably amend them as the actual nomination date draws nearer. Just based on buzz and what I have seen, I'll guess for the big eight categories...
BEST PICTURE
Charlie Wilson's War
Hairspray
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
BEST DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood
Tim Burton, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Joel & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Mike Nichols, Charlie Wilson's War
Sarah Polley, Away from Her
BEST ACTOR
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tom Hanks, Charlie Wilson's War
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
BEST ACTRESS
Julie Christie, Away from Her
Angelina Jolie, A Mighty Heart
Keira Knightley, Atonement
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
John Travolta, Hairspray
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Margot at the Wedding
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Marisa Tomei, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Atonement, Christopher Hampton
Charlie Wilson's War, Aaron Sorkin
A Mighty Heart, John Orloff
No Country for Old Men, Joel & Ethan Coen
There Will Be Blood, Paul Thomas Anderson
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
In the Valley of Elah, Paul Haggis & Mark Boal
Juno, Diablo Cody
Margot at the Wedding, Noah Baumbach
Michael Clayton, Tony Gilroy
The Savages, Tamara Jenkins
I wouldn't pick all of those as my personal top five (haven't even seen them all), but these are my guesses at this still relatively early stage in the '08 awards season. Tomorrow (Thursday December 13th) will have the announcement for the Golden Globe nominees. Those will be handed out one month later on January 13th, 2008, which is nine days before Oscar nominations are announced.
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"Film is a disease. When it infects your bloodstream it takes over as the number one hormone. It bosses the enzymes, directs the pineal gland, plays Iago to your psyche. As with heroin, the antidote to Film is more Film." - Frank Capra
Last edited by Holden Pike; 12-12-07 at 12:01 PM.