Inexplicably Early Oscar Predictions

INEXPLICABLY EARLY OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Why? Because I have no reason not to, and it's early enough to do them without looking like a lunatic. Still, though, the official nominations do not come out until January 22 of 2008, and there is truly no official buzz or apparent front-runners yet, which makes predicting at this point much more fun--but because of all the unknown intangibles that could occur between now and January, I will refrain and only do major awards...

BEST PICTURE

Changeling
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Doubt
*Milk
Revolutionary Road

BEST DIRECTOR

*David Fincher, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
Ron Howard, FROST/NIXON
Christopher Nolan, THE DARK KNIGHT
John Patrick Shanley, DOUBT
Gus Van Sant, MILK

BEST ACTOR

Richard Jenkins, THE VISITOR
Frank Langella, FROST/NIXON
Viggo Mortenson, THE ROAD
Sean Penn, MILK
*Brad Pitt, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON

BEST ACTRESS

Angelina Jolie, CHANGELING
Anne Hathaway, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Sally Hawkins, HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
Melissa Leo, FROZEN RIVER
*Kate Winslet, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

*Josh Brolin, MILK
Heath Ledger, THE DARK KNIGHT
John Malkovich, BURN AFTER READING
Michael Sheen, FROST/NIXON
Kodi Smit-McPhee, THE ROAD

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Kathy Bates, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Penelope Cruz, VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
*Viola Davis, DOUBT
Samantha Morton, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
Debra Winger, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

*Dustin Lance Black, MILK
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, BURN AFTER READING
Charlie Kaufman, SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
Jenny Lumet, RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

Justin Haythe, REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
Peter Morgan, FROST/NIXON
Joe Penhall, THE ROAD
Eric Roth, THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
*John Patrick Shanley, DOUBT