Oscar Contenders Update

A few more critics groups have weighed in with their verdicts since I last posted on the subject of critically acclaimed performances in 2008 motion pictures. So I've updated my consensus picks list based on the frequencies of critical mentions to establish my predictions for the upcoming Oscars season. Based on this careful analysis, I have determined favourites, certain nominees and long-shot outsiders with slim to faint hope chances in each of the major Academy Award categories.

They are:

BEST MOTION PICTURE:

Favourite:

Slumdog Millionaire


Certain nominees:


Wall-E
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk

Long Shots:

Dark Knight
Doubt
The Changeling
The Reader
Gran Torino

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR:

Co-favourites:

Sean Penn, for Milk
Mickey Rourke, for The Wrestler

Certain nominees:

Brad Pitt, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frank Langella, for Frost/Nixon
Leonardo Di Caprio, for Revolutionary Road

Long shots:

Josh Brolin, for W.
Clinton Eastwood, for Grand Torino
Richard Jenkins, for The Visitor

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS

Favourite:

Anne Hathaway, for Rachel Getting Married

Certain nominees:

Angelina Jolie, for The Changeling
Melissa Leo, for Frozen River
Kate Winslet, for Revolutionary Road
Meryl Streep, for Doubt

Long shot:

Cate Blanchet, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR:

Favourite:

Heath Ledger, for The Dark Knight

Certain nominees:

Robert Downey Jr., for Tropic Thunder
Josh Brolin, for Milk
Philip Seymour Hoffman, for Doubt


Long shots:

Eddie Marsan, for Happy-Go-Lucky
Tom Cruise, for Tropic Thunder

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS:

Favourite:

Penelope Cruz, for Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Certain nominees:

Marisa Tomei, for The Wrestler
Viola Davis, for Doubt
Amy Adams, for Doubt

Long shots:

Rosemarie DeWitt, for Rachel Getting Married
Taraji P. Henson, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

BEST DIRECTION OF A MOTION PICTURE

Favourite:

Danny Boyle, for Slumdog Millionaire

Certain nominees:

David Fincher, for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, for Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, for Milk
Christopher Nolan, for The Dark Knight


Long shots:

Darren Aronofsky, for The Wrestler
Clint Eastwood, for The Changeling or Gran Torino