I'm just going to kick this off by compiling a list of acclaimed actors/actresses and the films they've got planned for '05. As in most years, names from PREVIOUS years usually pop up again, which is the way I'm heading with this...

Bill Murray
Didn't Win For: Lost in Translation
Movies in '05:
1. The Lost City - with Dustin Hoffman and Andy Garcia. Seems to be a supporting role. Probably nothing.
2. Jim Jarmusch's Latest - No title yet. With Julie Delpy and the always-fabulous Sharon Stone (;)). Nada.

Kate Winslet
Didn't Win For/Will Not Win For: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Finding Neverland
Movies in '05:
1. Romance and Cigarettes - with James Gandolfini, Susan Sarandon, Steve Buscemi, Christopher Walken, Mandy Moore, Eddie Izzard, and Mary-Louise Parker. A musical, apparently. Directed by John Turturro.
2. All the King's Men - with Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini (again!), Anthony Hopkins, Sean Penn, Mark Ruffalo, and Jude Law. Oscar frickin' bait.
3. A Doll's House - with John Cusack. Seems too small to be considered for anything.

Jamie Foxx
Might Win For: Ray
Movies in '05:
1. Stealth - Directed by Rob Cohen. Sounds too much like Black Hawk Down. Probably not a bit of substantial buzz.
2. Jarhead - Directed by the fantastic Sam Mendes, but, like Stealth, is on war. Also, he's not the leading character - James Morrison is.

Ewan McGregor
Didn't Win For/Was Not Even Considered For: Moulin Rouge! and Trainspotting
Movies in '05:
1. The Island - Summer stuff. He has the leading role, and Djimon Hounsou, Scarlett Johannson, Michael Clarke Duncan (Daredevil) also star. Directed by Michael Bay. Unless it's a POTC for '05, chances are: no!
2. Stay - Directed by Finding Neverland's Marc Foster. Stars Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling (The Notebook). Touchy topic (Ivy League Professor's attempt to stop the suicide of a student). YES.
3. Flora Plum - Jodie Foster directs. Also starring Meryl Streep. He's a "freaky" clown in this one.
And there's Return of the Sith, but hokey dialogue isn't going to get him very far...

Uma Thurman
1, 2, and 3: Comedies, comedies, and comedies. She stars in "Be Cool", the sequel to Get Shorty, along with "Prime" and "Accidental Husband". Too bad.

Johnny Depp
Didn't Win For/Was Not Even Considered For: Every fuckin' thing EVER!
1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - The trailer is...well...very strange and different. We know he can pull it off, but, can Burton do his share?
2. The Rum Diary - Another role in a movie based on one of Hunter S. Thompson's works! Directed by Benicio Del Toro...

I'll do more later. Anyways, discuss ANY actors/actresses who you think will have a chance at picking up a nominee in '05.

Change the "Might" to "Will"

Stealth is as much oscar ware as Bad Boys II is, actually. Can't wait to see Jarhead.

Benicio del Toro directing? Wow, I've gotta see it!

I've been waiting for The Rum Diary forEVER! Hunter S. Thompson = Genius

I feel dumb about the Stealth comment. At first I was like - the guy from Chicago? Interesting. Then I realized it was the guy who did 2 Fast 2 Furious...

Hehe, it makes sense now

Rob Cohen made Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, Dragonheart, The Fast and the Furious, xXx, and the best movie Stallone made after Rambo 2, Daylight. 2 Fast 2 Furious was directed by John Singleton, who previously made Shaft, Boyz n the Hood, Higher Learning, Rosewood, and Baby Boy. Neither won Oscars, but get 'em right

Established actors to look for:

Julianne Moore should be considered a giganto contendor in 2005 with the very baity The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio and Saving Grace. Two heavy, heavy dramas.

With The New World and Ask the Dust, Colin Farrell may have his best shot yet. I would not downplay any film directed by Terrance Malick. He could drag Christian Bale along with him, who should have his biggest year yet next year.

Then there's that Memoirs of a Geisha and that Zhang Ziyi. If it is "the big contendor" next year, then it has to drag some of its actors with it.

Jarhead. Jake Gyllenhall, Jamie Foxx.

My most anticipated upcoming release: Walk the Line. Joaquin Phoneix and Reese Witherspoon

Oliver Twist. Ben Kingsley.

Agreed on Moore, despite one of her films having a shockingly bad name. Not quite sure about Farrell yet, I've known about the guy before most and supported him the whole way through, I'm just not sure how much people will have forgotten the entire Alexander debacle. Memoirs of a Geisha and Jarhead I also agree with, as long as nothing goes on. Road to Perdition wasn't a big hit, but it only solidified that he isn't a one-trick pony. I especially agree with Walk the Line. Like Libs (?) pointed out, the move from April to November screams that the studio is happy with what they saw and gives out Ray-ish vibes. Oliver Twist is the only one I REALLY disagree with. Polanski is a respected director, but you just know that people will have a field day with him being a pedo and making Oliver Twist.

Moore: the movie title is weird, but memorable.

Farrell: I think people have basically forgotten that Alexander ever existed, and it looks more like a failure on Stone's part, not Farrells (and hey, I'm not a Farrell fan at all!).

Polanski survived the whole pedophile thing, but I don't think there will be a penalty for the actors involved in his films. The Academy definately doesn't think it's that big of a deal anymore.

I'm sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo looking forward to Walk the Line. Phoenix is probably one of the top 5 best American actors at the moment.

Well I don't agree on the title, but Moore really is great and I'd love to see her win an Oscar - has she ever won before now?
You do make a good point about Farrell. Honestly, I even thought he was fairly decent in the movie, no matter how big a mess it was. You may be right about Polanski by and large, but I'm just not convinced Oliver Twist is going to do that well anyways.
And yeah, Phoenix is up there with one of my all time favorites too, it's a shame that Hollywood's never really let him move past being more than pretty respected.

Phoenix could get a nod next year...

No, I don't think Moore's ever won, MD.

Orlando Bloom for Kingdom of Heaven... *ducks* (just kidding)

No mention for Russell Crowe in Cinderalla Man? It could be the Seabiscuit of this summer

It's about time Ewan gets a freaking nomination at least.

Stay sounds goooooooooooooooooood. Wasn't it originally scheduled for '04?

Performances I'm looking forward to:

Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon in Walk The Line - Will it be next year's Ray? I think so.

Frances McDormand, Charlize Theron, and Sissy Spacek in Class Action - A true story directed by Niki Caro (Whale Rider). I loved Whale Rider and McDormand is one of my favorite actresses. Plus it's from Warner Brothers who has become a serious Oscar studio in the last couple of years. Their nomination tally was slightly behind Miramax this year.

Russell Crowe, Renee Zellweger, and Paul Giametti in Cinderella Man - I'm not tired of Crowe or Zellweger yet. Maybe Giametti can finally get a nom. in the supporting category.