Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Director, Screenplay
Danny Boyle
BEST DIRECTION
Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
All the nominees match the films found in the best picture list — something that is less common than one might think. Fincher has been getting plenty of recognition from critics’ and other groups, which makes me believe that, despite some unenthusiastic reviews for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, he’ll land a best director nomination come next January.
Doubt director John Patrick Shanley will have to be content with a screenwriting nod.
Runners-up: Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky), who may pull off another Vera Drake upset and take Ron Howard’s place; Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road); the idolized Clint Eastwood (Gran Torino); Stephen Daldry (The Reader); and Jonathan Demme (Rachel Getting Married).
Long shots: John Patrick Shanley (Doubt), Courtney Hunt (Frozen River), Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler), Andrew Stanton (WALL-E).
Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black (Milk)
Mike Leigh (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Jenny Lumet (Rachel Getting Married)
Nick Schenck (Gran Torino)
Andrew Stanton (WALL-E)
Runners-up: Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Robert D. Siegel (The Wrestler), or Courtney Hunt (Frozen River) may land a nomination in Mike Leigh’s place.
Long shots: Charlie Kaufman (Synecdoche, New York), J. Michael Straczynski (Changeling), Thomas McCarthy (The Visitor), Lance Hammer (Ballast), Martin McDonagh (In Bruges).
Brad Pitt, Taraji P. Henson in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon)
Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan (The Dark Knight)
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
John Patrick Shanley (Doubt)
Runners-up: Either David Hare (The Reader) or Justin Haythe (Revolutionary Road) may end up taking over the Nolans’ nomination for The Dark Knight. Not impossible, but I’d say less than likely.
Long shot: John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In).
Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Film, Foreign Film
Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Documentary, Animated Film
Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Actor, Actress
Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress
Oscar 2009 Predictions: Best Song, Visual Effects
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Tags: 2009 Oscar, Academy Awards, Christopher Nolan, Danny Boyle, David Fincher, Dustin Lance Black, Film Awards, Gran Torino, Gus Van Sant, Oscar Predictions, Ron Howard, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
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