'Tis the Season

Oscar season is almost upon us. Nominations will be announced in only a couple of weeks. With Golden Globe and SAG nominations out, and most critics awards bestowed, we have a good idea of who may be nominated. Here are who I think are the leading contenders in the major categories.

Best Picture
Front runners: Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon
Possible nominees: The Dark Knight, Doubt, The Wrestler, Wall-E
Long shots: Revolutionary Road, The Reader, Rachel Getting Married

Best Actor
Front runners: Sean Penn, Milk; Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler; Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Possible nominees: Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino; Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Long shots: Leonardo DiCaprio, Revolutionary Road, Josh Brolin, W.

Best Actress
Front runners: Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road; Meryl Streep, Doubt; Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married; Sally Hawkins, Happy Go Lucky
Possible nominees: Angelina Jolie, Changeling; Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long; Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Long shots: Cate Blanchett, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Keira Knightley, The Duchess

Best Supporting Actor
Front runners: Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight; Josh Brolin, Milk; Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt; Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Possible nominees: Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire; Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road; James Franco, Milk
Long Shots: Ralph Fiennes, The Duchess or The Reader

Best Supporting Actress
Front runners: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona; Viola Davis, Doubt; Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Kate Winslet, The Reader
Possible nominees: Amy Adams, Doubt; Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Long shots: Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married; Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married; Kathy Bates, Revolutionary Road

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire; David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon; Gus Van Sant, Milk
Possible nominees: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight; John Patrick Shanley, Doubt; Darren Arronofsky, The Wrestler
Long shots: Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road; Stephen Daldry, The Reader; Andrew Stanton, Wall-E