Jamie Foxx = no way. Collateral = no noms. (except maybe cinematograhy or somethin')

Clive Owen, Closer
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Freddie Highmore, Finding Neverland
Peter Sarsgaard, Kinsey

We'll see.

As much as I liked Jamie Foxx in Collateral, there is no way it's a lead performance. I really wouldn't be surprised either way regarding a nomination or a lack of one. SAdly, this category seems to be the weakest this year. At least Clive Owen's Golden Globe win livened it up a bit.

Not a lead performance? He's probably in it more than Cruise is.

My final predictions are:

Morgan Freeman-Million Dollar Baby
Jaime Foxx-Colateral
Thomas Haden Church-Sideways
Clive Owen-Closer
Peter Sarsgaard-Kinsey

Agredd. But that's Hollywood policy...

Sorry! I meant to type there's no way it's a supporting performance!

Hehe, I somehow figured... Anyway, it is really ridiculous to call it "supporting" since he is practically in the entire movie. Uust to think that Anthony Hopkins was given "lead" for The Silence of the Lambs (despite really not having much screentime) and now Foxx is being getting "supporting" for Collateral...

The only reason they're campaining him is because of Ray. I'm willing to bet no one would even consider him if he hasn't done Ray. And the only reason they're campaining supporting is because of Ray, since you can't be nominated two times in the same category.

OSCAR NOMINATIONS:

Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Jaime Foxx, Colateral
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Clive Owen, Closer
Alan Alda, The Aviator


Alan Alda won't win, I am surprised how he actually made it there in first place. Neither will Foxx because he'll get the Oscar for Ray. Owen probably won't win due to the big snub of Closer, so it'll be down to Freeman and Church. I think the overdue factor will make Freeman win, though.

Well, I thought Freeman should win it until I saw Closer. Clive Owen should win it, Freeman still will. Both of them bring their typical self to it, so its not about one assuming the character better than the other. Freeman has some of that soft edge and calming effect he puts into his roles, and no one could watch Owen in Closer and not catch the faint sniff of Croupier. But anyways, the difference is Freeman was a fundamentally nostalgic and compassionate character, and Owen's well, wasn't. He wasn't that likeable, but nor did you dislike, him, and his role in Closer really was to be the pragmatist. It was the strongest of the four roles and my favorite by far.

Anyhow, I don't want to take away from Freeman's win because he still deserves it and did an excellent job with the material he was given, I just think Owen was given better and richer material. Unfortunately Closer as a movie wasn't as good, so there's no way to really draw much attention to him.

Having seen all of the nominated performances besides Freeman's in Million Dollar Baby, my personal preference would be Clive Owen, even though Thomas Haden Church isn't far behind him.

Freeman will still win, though, in my opinion.