Early Oscar Buzz.

The 2009 Academy Awards are two months away. This year's installment will be hosted by Aussie heartthrob Hugh Jackman. This show is hands down my favorite awards show. It may also be my favorite thing on TV for the whole year. I love every second of the Oscars. Right after Thanksgiving the buzz starts to build around certain movies that are strategically released very close to the ceremony. I try to see as many of these movies as I can. A movie is a beautiful thing. While you are watching a movie the real world takes a back seat and you are engulfed in the story. And the Academy Awards celebrates these films in extravagant fashion. So with that in mind here is my first attempt at predicting the nominees for the major awards. When the nominees are actually announced, I will do another post picking my winners.
Best Supporting Actor:
The Best Bet:
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)- Tragic death aside, Ledger's portrayal of the Joker could be the performance of the year. He brought the psychotic, make-up wearing killer to life. Ledger became the joker, it was as simple as that. He disappeared into his character like nobody I've ever seen. Ledger could be the closest thing to a shoo-in that you will get at this years awards.
Contenders:
Haaz Sleiman (The Visitor)- Although he is an unknown to many, Sleiman depicted a Syrian man who, along with his wife came to America and illegally stayed here. Sleiman's character can't help but make you fall in love with him. He is carefree and is always wearing a smile.
Josh Brolin (Milk)- Brolin had an interesting year. Since being apart of the Coen Brothers Best Picture winner, No Country For Old Men, he took on the task of playing George W. Bush in Oliver Stone's "W". His next role was in Gus Van Sant's picture Milk. Brolin could be apart of two Best Picture winners in a row and is also being considered for Best Actor for his portrayal of Dubya.
James Franco (Pineapple Express)- No I am not joking. Franco (also in Milk) did an incredible job playing a stoner in Judd Apatow's summer hit. He could also receive a nod in this category for Milk but it is more likely he'd get a nod for Express.
Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)- After Ledger, Downey Jr's character could be considered the hardest to play. He played a Black man. Downey Jr's borderline racist portrayal could garner him some votes as the best actor in a supporting role.
Longshots:
John Malkovich (Burn After Reading)- Malkovich's zanieness+The Coen Brothers= A Shot at hardware.
Michael Caine (The Dark Knight)- With all the big names in Christopher Nolan's Batman series Caine is sometimes forgotten. I would not expect him to win, although he does deserve a nod.

Best Supporting Actress:
Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)- Even though Winslet was in almost every minute of this movie, she will not be considered the lead role because she will be nominated for her leading role in The Reader. The Academy does not like to nominate someone twice in the same category so Kate will just have to suffer here. She could possibly win Best Actress and Supporting Actress this year. She plays a wife in a stagnant marriage (Husband: Leo DiCaprio) in this story about making things work. It is directed by her husband Sam Mendes.
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona)- Spanish actress, Spanish city. It was a great fit for Cruz since the movie was conceived. Not to mention she worked with the incredibly talented Javier Bardem (Best Supporting Actor 2008-No Country For Old Men).
Ahney Her (Gran Torino)- The young asian actress plays a teenager growing up in a very traditional Hmong family. The only problem is the lived in a very bad suburb of Detroit where gang violence runs rampant.
Amy Ryan (Changeling)- Although she maybe overshadowed by Angelina Jolie in this movie, Ryan's performance is as strong as anyone on this list.
Also Keep An Eye On:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Meryl Streep (Mama Mia!)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Best Actress:
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)- Off screen weirdness aside, Jolie gives one of the most stirring performances of the year in Clint Eastwood's suspense filled thriller Changeling. It is by far the best performance of her career. She plays a mother whose son was abducted for her. The movie follows her in her frantic search for her young son.
Kate Winslet (The Reader)- Winslet plays a woman who is on trial for war crimes during WWII. She has a daunting task of making you feel for a Nazi sympathizer. It seems like Winslet is nominated for something every year and you can see why in any one of her movies.
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)- Hathaway plays a woman coming home for her sister's wedding. Seems simple enough, throw in the fact that her character was in and out of rehab for the past ten years and you have an intriguing role that caught the eye of many critics.
Meryl Streep (Doubt)- Streep is looking for her third Oscar in this category in this creepy drama. This movie could win in 4 separate categories and Streep is one of the favorites for best actress.


Part II:
Best Actor
Best Picture
Best Director


-Feel free to email me your own previews if you would like.