First 2008 (2009?) Predictions

Just to hold you over for the time being, here are my predictions for the "Big 8" awards for the upcoming Oscars (we'll call them the 2008 Oscars from now on, just to make life easier). With the release of the PGA nominees this morning, it seems that the Best Picture top five just got more solidified, but we still await the Writers Guild and DGA nominations--which are coming on Wednesday and Thursday respectively.

Best Picture:
1. Slumdog Millionaire [My rating: B+]
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button [TK]
3. Milk [A-/A]
4. Frost/Nixon [C+/B-]
5. The Dark Knight [B/B+]
...
6. Revolutionary Road [TK]
7. WALL-E [A]
8. Doubt [A-]
9. The Wrestler [TK]
10. The Reader [TK]

Best Director:
1. David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
2. Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
3. Gus Van Sant, Milk
4. Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight
5. Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
...
6. Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler
7. Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
8. Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road
9. Jonathan Demme, Rachel Getting Married
10. Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

Best Actor:
1. Sean Penn, Milk
2. Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
3. Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
4. Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
5. Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
...
6. Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road
7. Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino
8. Dustin Hoffman, Last Chance Harvey
9. Josh Brolin, W.
10. Benicio Del Toro, Che

Best Actress:
1. Meryl Streep, Doubt
2. Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
3. Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road
4. Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
5. Melissa Leo, Frozen River
...
6. Angelina Jolie, Changeling
7. Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long
8. Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
9. Emma Thompson, Last Chance Harvey
10. Michelle Williams, Wendy & Lucy

Best Supporting Actor:
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
2. Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt 3. Josh Brolin, Milk
4. Robert Downey, Jr., Tropic Thunder
5. Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire
...
6. Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
7. James Franco, Milk
8. Bill Irwin, Rachel Getting Married
9. Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky
10. Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess

Best Supporting Actress:
1. Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
2. Viola Davis, Doubt
3. Kate Winslet, The Reader
4. Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
5. Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
...
6. Kate Winslet, The Reader
7. Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married
8. Amy Adams, Doubt
9. Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married
10. Vera Farmiga, Nothing But the Truth

Best Original Screenplay (Just top 5 now...):
1. Milk (Dustin Lance Black)
2. Rachel Getting Married (Jenny Lumet)
3. WALL-E (Andrew Stanton)
4. Happy-Go-Lucky (Mike Leigh)
5. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen)

Best Adapted Screenplay (Ditto):
1. Slumdog Millionaire (Simon Beaufoy)
2. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Eric Roth & Robin Swicord)
3. Doubt (John Patrick Shanley)
4. Frost/Nixon (Peter Morgan)
5. The Reader (David Hare)