I've always been hypocritical when it comes to the Oscars. It seems like every year, I watch my favorite movies lose to the overhyped stuff and vow never to watch again, only to have the same thing happen the next year (last year was not the case). Anyway, I figured I'd drop all that and start a thread with a more hopeful attitude toward this year's Oscar season. Personally, I think it's going to be one of the best seasons they've ever had. I'm predicting Slumdog Millionare cleans out the place, leaving the usual Oscar shoo-ins (e.g. Clint Eastwood) getting the shaft. I've also got my fingers crossed that Heath Ledger actually gets nominated (he won a Golden Globe posthumously; that's a start).

A lotta good films rumored this year. I'd still like to catch a couple more (The Wrestler, Gran Torino) before the ceremony.

Anyone care to speculate?

Heath ledger, mickey Rourke are for sure shoo-in's, Slumdog has the best chance at best picture and i'm sure kate winslet will win one, other than that im not sure, should be interesting

I really, really, really want to see Slumdog sweep the boards. For me it is the film of the decade, for some reason I just love it. And I know we could get into the discussion about how technically it was not brilliant, the script relied a little on lots of coincidences and Danny Boyle was certainly a little manipulative in places. But for me that does not matter, this is a film that just seemed to work so well and appeal to such a large demographic that it deserves the success it has had.

But, I have a feeling in the my stomach that it might not win best picture, there is a general feeling that the Oscars tend to look after their own. The Golden Globes is an international voting panel, they were always much more likely to go for Slumdog, I just wonder if the Oscar will be different. Milk is probably the most likely after Slumdog with WALL-E being a danger if nominated. Though they might do well to keep WALL-E off the best picture nomination in favor of The Dark Knight.

Danny Boyle should be favourite for Best Director but again would not be surprised to see David Fincher win. Best Adapted Screenplay should be in the bag I would imagine though.

I love the Oscars, they are my kind of movies and I really enjoy watching all the contenders in the run-up, this past couple of months has been brilliant for great movies.

For best picture I predict:

Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight
MILK
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Wrestler

Saw today on BBC News that WALL-E has been named Best Picture at the Online Film Critics Society in the US, well as winning best animated feature and best original screenplay.

I have this wonderful feeling that maybe, just maybe, WALL-E will sneak a Best Picture Oscar nomination tomorrow. I hope so. I personally think it deserves a nomination, even if Slumdog Millionaire seems to have the actual award in the bag. Best Animated Picture is a bit of a token award...Beauty and the Beast got a Best Picture award, and hopefully WALL-E will too.

I'm pushing The Dark Knight for best picture, and I would love for them to give Heath best supporting actor

You can see how much I love the Dark Knight by this
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I'd be pretty surprised if The Dark Knight is even nominated, given that it didn't get the call at Golden Globes time.

True, because pics like Slumdog Millionaire will be nominated, in fact, I think that'll win, I hope not, but it probably will

Slumdog is so overrated, I think The Dark Knight will get in its got Producers Guild, Writers Guild, and Directors Guild nominations. I hope The Wrestler and Wall-E get in some how.

Honestly IMO Wall-e was overrated too

Slumdog wasn't even that great of a movie, I only saw part of it and that was enough, I'm surprised it won the Golden Globe, I hope it doesn't win an Oscar.

Well, Slumdog is like this year's No Country. I REALLY hope The Dark Knight will AT LEAST get nominated, hopefully win, but a nomination, that is an honor by itself

Quoted from Shelton I'd be pretty surprised if The Dark Knight is even nominated, given that it didn't get the call at Golden Globes time.

Heath Ledger won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor so I think it's possible for him to be nominated and even win the same award for the Oscars. As for the film itself being nominated, I doubt it. I'm sure it'll sweep the more technical catagories but there's far too many more "Oscar-ish" (though not neccesarily better) films that could be nominated for Best Picture. I'd say a win for Ledger is the most fans can hope for but really, I think that would be satisfying for most.

I'm sure Ledger will be nominated and most likely win.  The only possible spoiler I could see would be Philip Seymour Hoffman in Doubt, but that seems unlikely.

I agree that Ledger should win, through my eyes he was the best supporting actor of the year, he won the Golden Globe and should win an Oscar.

Hoffman in Doubt was alright I guess. To tell you the truth I don't care who wins as long as whoever it is worthy of the title.

Quoted from Xavier Slumdog wasn't even that great of a movie, I only saw part of it and that was enough, I'm surprised it won the Golden Globe, I hope it doesn't win an Oscar.

I thought the same about Angelina Jolie when everyone was raving about how beautiful she was, I thought she was really ugly. To be fair though I only saw her left ankle but that was enough for me.