..Gary Dretzka
..Noah Forrest
..Leonard Klady
..R.J. Matson
..David Poland
..Douglas Pratt
..Ray Pride
..Michael Wilmington

PictureX Director
xx...Actor/Supporting Actor XActress/Supporting Actress
xScreenplay/Adapted Screenplay

BEST ACTOR
Actor - Film	Comment
The Frontrunners
Joaquin Phoenix - Walk The Line	The only thing that could hurt him is Jamie Foxx "doing" a legend last year... but still, a sure nominee
Eric Bana - Munich	The guy who gets the guys who killed the Israelis is going to get a nomination. (He's capable of being a great actor too.)
Sean Penn - All The Kings Men	A veteran in a field of newcomers... a great, great role, very different performer than Broderick Crawford, works to his advantage
Tommy Lee Jones - The Three Burials Of Melquiades Estrada	Director and star, his mostly likely reward is here
Nathan Lane - The Producers	The clear lead of the film, he's here unless the movie really flops
The Awards Veterans
Ralph Fiennes - The Constant Gardener	One of his most subtle performances in a remarkable, small film.
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Capote	He's never been nominated, but it sure feels llike he's been on that track for a long time
Russell Crowe - Cinderella Man	He is Russell Crowe, but the perceived weak box office and phone manners make it an uphill climb
Bill Murray - Broken Flowers	Lovely, tiny film... not this time...
The Next Generation
David Strathairn - Good Night. And, Good Luck	Seems like a sure tour d' force, but its tough to see the Academy going for a veteran New York actor with a light studio movie resume
Viggo Mortensen - A History Of Violence	A brilliant, but very, very low-key performance... he'll get respect, but a nomination will be tough
The Split Votes
Brokeback Mountain - Heath Ledger / Jake Gyllenhaal - Jarhead	Only one gay cowboy per category... and Gyllenhaal will also have to pick between two high-profile awards films
Colin Farrell - The New World / Ask The Dust	Despite the trailer, The New World is not his film... so it's probably an easy choice
Johnny Depp - Charlie & The Chocolate Factory / The Libertine	Charlie is too cool and The Libertine is too hot... looks like no porridge for Johnny this year
George Clooney - Syrianna / Director - Good Night. And, Good Luck	He put on weight for the Syriana role, but he'll also be pushing for the film he directed
The Discoveries
Terrence Howard - Hustle & Flow	He's brilliant here... but how will they get Academy members to watch the film?
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - Match Point	Word is that this a breakout role... could be a mover.
50 Cent - Get Rich Or Die Tryin'	Who knows? My guess is more commercial than Oscar, but Jim Sheridan owns his own tux.

 

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Actor - Film	Comment
Geoffrey Rush - Munich	The Ben Kingsley role... yum
Sir Ben Kingsley - Oliver Twist	A fifth nomination? It would tie Sir Alec Guiness. There are few juicier roles than Fagan, which A.G. played for Lean in 1948.
Matthew Broderick - The Producers	If the movie makes Best Picture tracks, Leo has to be nominated... and U has to go Supporting, since going with two leads is like begging for two misses.
Don Cheadle - Crash	A virtual leading role... Cheadle could finally become an Academy fave
Daniel Craig - Munich	A great actor whose time may arrive now.
Ken Watanabe - Memoirs Of A Geisha	Let's hope his role is bigger than it was in Batman Begins
Jude Law/James Gandolfini- Al The Kings Men	The Academy's tendency to overlook Jude is getting boring... Gandolfini has a showy role, but is he too TV associated?
Will Ferrell or Roger Bart - The Producers	The traditional supporting slots... but will there be too much internal competition?
Matt Damon - Syriana	Fine young actor.. will the performance pop?
Peter Sarsgaard - Jarhead	Great young actor, but Academy snakebit
William Hurt - A History of Violence	Great aging actor... small role... but wow!
Jamie Foxx - Jarhead	Nah. But you gotta have him on the list.
Brian Cox - Match Point	An honerary award in the making
Paul Giamatti - Cinderella Man	The Academy doesn't seem to feel embarrassed about overlooking this gem yet
Kevin Costner - The Upside of Anger	Too early in the year... and Rumor Has It won't help, it will just distract

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July 27 , 2005
- David Poland