Is Nicholson going to be lead or supporting?

If he is supprting, I'm pretty darn sure DiCaprio will get a nomination for lead.
If he is leading, Damon has a great shot for a supporting nom (unless he also goes for lead).

Anyone think Vera Farmiga could snatch a Supp. Actress nom?

Yeah.

Lorraine Bracco did for Goodfellas, I see no reason why Vera Farmiga couldn't, especially considering the category is weak so far.

*starts coutdown*

I want to see this NOW!

Me too

I'm seeing Illusionist in like an hour, but I've been anxiously awaiting seeing a quality movie.

Tomorrow is October 1, all the moviegoing awesomeness will begin.

Next Friday can't get here soon enough! This has instant classic written all over it.

The only good thing about October is the start of the awards movies in earnest.

The Departed will be the first time I have been near a theater since Snakes on a Plane. Everytime I see the trailer I get happy.

I don't know why, but it just popped into my head that Leo was going to win Best Actor this year.

He's been putting in solid performances for years (This Boy's Life, What's eating Gilbert Grape(for which he received an Oscar nom)), so maybe the Academy will think he is due, given he solid performances the last few years in Catch Me if You Can, The Aviator.

DiCaprio is definitely due for more attention. This Boy's Life deserved more attention and he deserved to win for Grape. I also think he was unfairly snubbed in the case of Titanic (though by no means was the performance worthy of the win). He should have an Oscar, but I think the Academy will favor older actors over him, as he will continue to deliver for decades.

Were it not for the awards sweep that Jamie Foxx caused, the Oscar was DiCaprio's in 2005 with The Aviator.

He should have no problem getting a nomination here and I think he can pull off a win. Yes, even against O'Toole. It's too early to tell anything yet of the two performances but as long as Jack Nicholson doesn't steal every scene, Leo is definitely in the upper tier for Best Actor.

It wont happen, no chance. He's surrounded by too much talent in the film, it's not his film like Aviator was. He could end up getting the 4th or 5th spot, but a win just wont happen, im sure the movie itself and the cast as a whole will get much more attention then just DiCaprio stand alone, which hurts tremendously.

Yeah, O'Toole and Whittaker are too far ahead in the race right now. It's not Leo's time yet.

Are you seriously going to use THAT as a reason?

DiCaprio will win one day, just not this time. Maybe for his next film with Scorsese, about Roosevelt.

And if he wins this time, I'm sure you all "knew it would happen all the time" like you did with Clooney last year, huh?

No, I'll just say "Poor Peter O'Toole".

I dont really know how you find it hard to belive if the buzz and attention isnt focused more on DiCaprio then the cast as a whole it obviously makes it harder to get the win, especially when it's not really a push over year. It's not his film this time and the character doesnt seem that incredibly interesting to begin with and I mean where is the stand out praise? It seems everyone is great, DiCaprio isnt really standing out in the crowd by giving a far superior performance to everyone else.

According to several reviews he is.

But there is no beating Whitaker or O'Toole this year.

Kil, I can't stop watching your sig.

Levy I know thought DiCaprio gave the best performance.

RS & Cinema Blend pretty much gave it to Jack.

Some also seem to be giving DiCaprio and Damon equal praise.

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_WjsuoMrcEM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed>

Yeah, even if Venus fails to take off and the buzz for O'Toole somehow fades by December, Leo still can't beat Whitaker. Even though The Departed will end up with better reviews, the words are simply too glowing on Whitaker. It looks like Jack has given a legendary performance, and it'll be very hard for such an ensemble cast to get a second acting win.

Roeper and Smith also reviewed Last King of Scotland. They praised Whitaker's performance they also both say he's supporting in the film.Smith even predicted Whitaker win's best supporting actor.

Yeah, I meant to mention that about Whitaker. He's got some chinks in his armor, he's not unbeatable. He's more supporting (although I'd expect him to go lead) and the film, while getting good reviews, isn't getting the kind of raves to make him any kind of an unstopable force or anything.

Not to go too off topic from The Departed but I did just come from seeing The LAst King from Scotland.

I didn't think the film itself was anything to write home about. It was, as I feared, what I thought it would be from seeing the trailer and turned out very predictable. There was one surprise though and that was the utter cringe-worthy gruesomeness of one scene. I was not expecting them to show that much... it was almost Passion of the Christ status for a few seconds.

That being said, Whitaker was great but I don't see him winning an Oscar for that performance. If he goes supporting, he may have a chance but he will probably be going up against Nicholson and Pitt.

By the way.... Gillian Anderson was in the movie... which was a really nice treat