The night before the Oscar nominations are announced is a little like the night before Chistmas for me. I even leave cookies and milk by the fireplace, just in case. This year, I think I will make "Dark Knight" cookies, essentially dark chocolate cookies with Joker faces painted on them. My logic is that if Oscar climbs down my chimney and has these fantastic theme cookies, it will ensure that THE DARK KNIGHT secures a Best Picture nomination tomorrow. Basically, if the Oscar people are smart, Christopher Nolan's ginormous hit will hear its name called tomorrow morning in the Best Picture category. The most watched Oscar telecasts have been for years where the front runner is an audience favorite (like LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING or TITANIC). Last year, NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN, took home the top prize and it was the lowest rated telecast in years. And the Coen Brother masterpiece wasn't even a flop.
I predict that THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON will lead the pack with 14 nominations. The most nominated films after this one will be THE DARK KNIGHT (11 nominations), MILK and SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE with 10 nominations and finally FROST/NIXON and WALL-E with 6 nominations each.
The following are my predictions in the eight major categories. Check back tomorrow for a full list of the 81st annual Oscar nominations and a report on how my psychic capabilities measure up.
BEST PICTURE
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
FROST/NIXON
MILK
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
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
James Franco, MILK
Philip Seymour Hoffman, DOUBT
Heath Ledger, THE DARK KNIGHT
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
BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins, THE VISITOR
Frank Langella, FROST/NIXON
Sean Penn, MILK
Brad Pitt, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Mickey Rourke, THE WRESTLER
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Sally Hawkins, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Angelina Jolie, CHANGELING
Meryl Streep, DOUBT
Kate Winslet, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
MILK
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
WALL-E
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
DOUBT
FROST/NIXON
THE READER
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE