With the Venice Film festival over and early Critical reviews, my predictions for the big categories are:

Best Picture:
* Atonement
* Elizabeth: The Golden Age
* Eastern Promises
* American Gangster
* Charlie Wilson's War

^ I'm Not There
^ There Will Be Blood

Pretty exciting race this year, a lot of variety and several that will appeal to mainstream audiences such as American Gangster and Charlie Wilson's War. Haven't heard much from Charlie Wilson's War but, as with any race there will be a surge by a movie latter in the year and this one looks the surest bet of the lot. Still don't know which movie will win at this stage, logically I would think American Gangster, but with The Departed winning last year, I have my reservations. For me, it's between American Gangster and Atonement at this stage.

Best Director:
* David Gronenberg "Eastern Promises"
* Joe Wright "Atonement"
* Brian De Palmer "Redacted"
* Ridley Scott "American Gangster"
* Francis Ford Coppola "Youth Without Youth"

^ James Mangold "3:10 To Yuma"
^ Ang Lee "Lust Caution"

Brian De Palmer's win at Venice definately brings him into the early list of favourites, though I don't think he will win. If American Gangster scores big, Ridley Scott will be up there for the win with Francis Ford Coppola the only one to match him.


Best Actor:
* James McAvoy "Atonement"
* Denzel Washington "American Gangster"
* Daniel Day Lewis "There Will Be Blood"
* Joaquin Phoenix "Reservation Road"
* Viggo Mortensen "Eastern Promises"

^ Johnny Depp "Sweeny Todd"
^ Brad Pitt "The Assasination of Jesse James.."

One of the strongest Best Actor fields in a long time, i'm finally "almost" as excited about this race as the Best Actress race. Joaquin Phoenix and Daniel Day Lewis are due, if there performances continue to be praised by the critics, expecte the winner to come out of these two. But you can never count out Denzel Washington out, the Academy clearly loves him and if his performance truly delivers, they won't have any problems crowning him again.

Best Actress:
* Cate Blanchett "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
* Julie Christie "Away From Her"
* Marion Coltillard "La Vie En Rose"
* Keira Knightley "Atonement"
* Nicole Kidman "Margot At The Wedding"

^ Angelina Jolie "A Mighty Heart"
^ Jodie Foster "The Brave One"

Definately the race i'm most interested in. Personally hoping Cate to win, but she has a pretty big obstacle with the movie being a sequel and her playing the same character. She needs to delivery a truly memorable performance for a nomination, anything on par or lower than the first will not be enough against strong and "fresh" performances. With so many repeating names, I think this may work in Marion Coltillard's favour, she was superb in La Vie En Rose. The other two performances I think will feature is Keira and Julie, Nicole I'm not sure of at this stage, but hopeful because I love her.


Best Supporting Actor:
* Casey Affleck "The Asssination Of Jesse James..."
* Javier Bardem "No Country for Old Men"
* Mark Ruffalo "Reservation Road"
* Russell Crowe "American Gangster"
* Paul Dano "There Will Be Blood"

^ Philip Seymour Hoffman - Charlie Wilson's War
^ Phillip Bosco "The Savages"

Probably the least interesting out of the big acting races for me, never was a favouirte of mine. Casey Affleck will probably score a nomination for Jesse James, there was some buzz from him for Venice though he lost out to Brad Pitt. Russell Crowe, surprisingly, stars in a supporting role for his two features this year, 3:10 To Yuma and American Gangster, though if American Gangster hits, he will surely be swept along.

Best Supporting Actress:
* Cate Blanchett "I'm Not There"
* Jennifer Jason Leigh "Margot At The Wedding"
* Soairase Ronan "Atonement"
* Romola Garai "Atonement"
* Helena Bonham Carter "Sweeny Todd"

^ Julia Roberts - Charlie Wilson's War
^ Jennifer Connolly - Reservation Road

The key here is Cate Blanchett. Does the Academy want to reward Cate again so soon. We all know the performance is great, buzzed and will surely feature in the nominations....but do they really want to reward her again, most importantly in the same supporting actress category? THat's why I think that if her role in The Golden Age creates sparks, we will see a Best Actress win for Cate (helped by the buzz of I'm Not There) leaving The Best Supporting Actress category to either Jennifer Jason Leigh or Helena Bonham Cater. But if Golden Age doesn't hit, I'm afraid she may loose this category as well because she is really not due and playing a well known celebrity figure again.