BEST FILM
Million Dollar Baby
Runner-up: Sideways
Second runner-up: Before Sunset

BEST DIRECTOR
Zhang Yimou, Hero & House of Flying Daggers
Runner-up: Alexander Payne, Sideways
Second runner-up: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby

BEST ACTOR
Jamie Foxx, Collateral & Ray
Runner-up: Paul Giamatti, Sideways
Second runner-up: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby

BEST ACTRESS (tie)
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Runner-up: Julie Delpy, Before Sunset

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Runner-up: Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Second runner-up: Peter Sarsgaard, Kinsey

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Runner-up: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Second runner-up: Laura Linney, Kinsey

BEST SCREENPLAY
Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Sideways

So much for those doubting that Zhang Yimou can be nominated.

The best Actress category is really up in the air as far as the winner goes. I think that Swank, Staunton and Benning all have pretty much equal chances at this point.

Looks like Million Dollar Baby may overtake The Aviator in the last weeks leading up to Oscar.

As much critical acclaim as Imelda Staunton may have, she doesn't have a chance at winning the Oscar. Her nominatio is a lock, but she won't win.

congrats to Jamie Foxx

Yeah, Yimou seems to be the director that would occupy space #6 if you consider Forster and Hackford are still pretty weak choices in Best Director. Probably Hackford won't be in there.

Yep that's me!! :razz:

I am more confident in his nod now though I still think he will duke it out with Mann or Nichols. I think Hackford is slipping away.

I just say that Zhang Yimou won for best director, thats great.

Well, personally, I still do see Mann nominated, but I think that Yimou has a good chance, better than say..Terry George and Taylor Hackford.

The thing that makes Yimou a great canidate is that it is likely that House of Flying Daggers will win foreign film.

I don't think this award has any impact on the Oscar race...

2004 they had American Splendor as Best Picture, 2002 Mulholland Drive, 2001 Yiyi...

Maybe the acting categories are somewhat an indicator, but other than that, I don't believe it will influence a lot...

No I think that Maria Full of Grace will win, its been very very well received

it's also ineligible...

I'd go with The Sea Inside

Maybe but the sea inside bombed at the theatres. Maria Full of Grace got more attention.

Maybe but the sea inside bombed at the theatres. Maria Full of Grace got more attention.[/quote

but Sea Inside is eligible

True it is. Here is what I would think

Maria full of Grace
Bad Education
The Motorcycle Daries
The Sea Inside
and another one

Bad Education, Maria Full of Grace and The Motorcacle Diaries are all not eligible. For different reasons.

The Sea Inside has always been a frontrunner, but won't win, most likely. It has performed really terribly for an oscar-bait foreign film.

House of Flying Daggers will win, I think.

Another category, reported by Variety:

Best Cinematography
1. House of Flying Daggers
2. Hero
3. Collateral

I strongly hope that Collateral will be nominated for Best Cinematography. It deserves it

Same. I'm sure The Aviator also has good cinematography.

Motorcycle Diaries, I think, deserves a nomination.

I didn't know there was a preliminary list for cinematography. There are always five nominees in that category...

This is the NFCS winner list for Cinematography.

ah, okay... thanks!

Their Best Picture winner doesn't really indicate much as their past winners include American Splendor, Mulholland Dr., Yi yi, Being John Malkovich, and Topsy-Turvy. Their best director winners, however, have fared much better with oscar: Clint Eastwood, Roman Polanski, Robert Altman, and Steven Soderbergh were the winners from last 4 years, all of whom were nominated. So I'd say Yimou's chance is quite good.