SubscribeUpdated Oscars predix: 'Slumdog' nipping at heels of 'Benjamin Button'
Pundits are constantly updating their Oscars predix at the Envelope's Buzzmeter, so remember to keep checking back often. (Bookmark THIS LINK for quick access in the future.)
Below is a sampling of newest predix from top gurus, who include Pete Hammond (Notes on a Season, The Envelope), Peter Howell (Toronto Star), Dave Karger (Entertainment Weekly), Lou Lumenick (New York Post), Sasha Stone (AwardsDaily.com), Jeff Wells (Hollywood-Elsewhere.com) and moi.
Notice how close the battle is over best picture. While four of these seven seers pick "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," two of us naysayers back "Slumdog Millionaire" and one opts for "Milk." All four "Button" backers put "Slumdog Millionaire" in second place. I — a "Slumdog" supporter — list "Button" as the runner-up."
Views are split over best actor: three votes for Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), two for Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"), one for Sean Penn ("Milk") and one for Leo DiCaprio ("Revolutionary Road").
Kate Winslet ("Revolutionary Road") zooms ahead of previous front-runner Meryl Streep ("Doubt") with four votes to one. Streep even falls behind Kristin Scott Thomas ("I've Loved You So Long"), who has two votes.
| BEST PICTURE | Hammond | Karger | Stone | Wells | Howell | Lumenick | O'Neil |
| 'Australia' |
5 |
|
|||||
| 'Benjamin Button' |
1 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| 'Dark Knight' |
|
|
3 |
|
3 |
|
|
|
'Doubt' |
|
5 |
|
5 |
|
|
|
| 'Frost/Nixon' |
3 |
3 |
|
|
5 |
3 |
|
|
'Gran Torino' |
|
|
|
5 |
|||
| 'Milk' |
4 |
4 |
4 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
| 'Revolutionary Road' |
|
4 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
| 'Slumdog Millionaire' |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
| BEST ACTOR | Hammond | Karger | Stone | Wells | Howell | Lumenick | O'Neil |
| Leo DiCaprio, 'Revolutionary Road |
4 |
5 |
1 |
5 |
4 |
4 |
|
| Clint Eastwood, 'Gran Torino' |
3 |
5 |
4 |
|
|
3 |
5 |
|
Richard Jenkins, 'The Visitor' |
4 |
|
4 |
|
5 |
|
|
| Frank Langella, 'Frost/Nixon' |
1 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
| Sean Penn, 'Milk' |
3 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| Brad Pitt, 'Benjamin Button' |
5 |
|
|
3 |
|||
| Mickey Rourke, 'The Wrestler' |
|
1 |
1 |
3 |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| BEST ACTRESS | Hammond | Karger | Stone | Wells | Howell | Lumenick | O'Neil |
| Anne Hathaway, 'Rachel Getting Married' |
|
3 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
3 |
3 |
|
Cate Blanchett, 'Benjamin Button' |
4 |
|
5 |
3 |
4 |
||
| Angelina Jolie, 'Changeling' |
5 |
5 |
|
|
5 |
4 |
|
|
Sally Hawkins, 'Happy-Go-Lucky' |
|
|
5 |
||||
|
Melissa Leo, 'Frozen River' |
|
4 |
|||||
| Meryl Streep, 'Doubt' |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Kristin Scott Thomas, 'I've Loved You So Long' |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
| Kate Winslet, 'Revolutionary Road' |
3 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Photo: Miramax
It really surprises me that "Pundits are constantly updating their Oscars predix at the Envelope's Buzzmeter" because they have not changed anything since November 1.
Last year, the Buzzmeter changed from Sunday to Sunday and it was reeeaalllly interesting to see which way the season was moving. But it's not 2007 anymore, is it?
Posted by: Bastian | December 01, 2008 at 09:31 AM
There should be more love for "The Dark Knight" - the biggest and best reviewed film of the year.
Maybe take another look at it when it comes out on dvd next Tuesday.
Posted by: Doug | November 30, 2008 at 10:03 PM
Can it please be the year that Leonardo Dicaprio is the front runner to win best actor? I'm so sick of this talented actor not getting the recognition he truly deserves. He has been a huge factor in two best picture winners -- Titanic and The Departed. He was nominated for What's Eating gilbert Grape, The Aviator (which he should have won for) and Blood Diamond (in a year when people said that he had two great performances in the departed and blood diamond). Seriously, what is is going to take for Dicaprio to finally get the oscar? I hope they don't feel that he is too young to receive an oscar and are waiting for him to get older -- like the paul newman factor. He is a great actor and he should win for Revolutionary Road.
Posted by: Jake | November 30, 2008 at 05:34 PM
I appreciate the comments of the gurus of oscar, but should be less fair to assess, for example, I see an overvalued Cate Blanchett in a role quite mild in comparison with their rivals. Angelina Jolie, something overact.
I would like the following list of possible contenders:
Anne Hathaway
Kristin Scott Thomas
Sally Hawkins
Kate Winslet
Meryl Streep
Posted by: Rose | November 30, 2008 at 12:59 PM
I appreciate the comments of the gurus of oscar, but should be less fair to assess, for example, I see an overvalued Cate Blanchett in a role quite mild in comparison with their rivals. Angelina Jolie, something overact.
I would like the following list of possible contenders:
Anne Hathaway
Kristin Scott Thomas
Sally Hawkins
Kate Winslet
Meryl Streep
Posted by: Rose | November 30, 2008 at 12:55 PM