The critics have spoken. And there’s certainly a consensus. However, does it necessarily mean anything for the Best Picture race? Keep in mind that in past years, films like “Sideways” and “Brokeback Mountain” swept the critics awards, but still felt short with the Academy. “No Country For Old Men” was the exception last year. So while “Slumdog Millionaire” is sweeping trophies left and right, it still has a ways to go to capture the heart of mainstream America. Take a list at our list below and notice how certain regions are voting. It is pretty fascinating.

Detroit – Slumdog…
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Oscar Frenzy correctly predicted three out of the five films nominated for Screen Actor’s Guild awards: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Doubt, and Slumdog Millionaire. The two surprise nominations were The Dark Knight and Revolutionary Road. In a bit of an upset, Milk was left out of the best ensemble nominations.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button picked up two more acting nominations for best actor (Brad Pitt) and best supporting actress (Taraji P. Henson). Kate Winslet was nominated for both best actress (Revolutionary Road) and best supporting actress (The Reader).

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor

On Thursday, the Screen Actor’s guild will announce their nominations. The category which we pay most attention to is Best Ensemble. Traditionally, there’s been a great correlation between these nominated films and the five Oscar Best Picture nominees. Last year, however, was an exception when 3:10 to Yuma, Hairspray, and Into the Wild all were selected for Best Ensemble, but not by the Academy. The reason this category is important is because by and large actors and actresses still comprise of the largest branch of the Academy. Here are our predictions for Best Ensemble:

Slumdog Millionaire
The Dark Knight…
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Well, the first wave of awards have come and gone, and here are some preliminary thoughts on the state of the race.

Revolutionary Road is in trouble. Once a highly touted Oscar contender, it’s sinking faster than the Titanic. The film didn’t make the National Board of Review or Broadcast Top Ten. It did make the Golden Globe drama short list, but then again so did The Great Debaters. The best it can probably hope for now is a Best Actress nod for Kate Winslet.

Penelope Cruz is hot. She swept the early critics’ awards for Supporting Actress…
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The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire picked up more nominations at Hollywood Foreign Press Association 2008 Golden Globe Awards Nominations this morning.

Oscar Frenzy correctly predicted four out of the six best picture drama nominees and three of the five best picture – musical or comedy nominees.

Best Picture – Drama
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
the Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Picture – Musical or Comedy
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
in Bruges
Mamma Mia!
Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Complete List:
http://www.goldenglobes.org/news/id/104…
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The Hollywood Foreign Press Association will announce their nominations bright and early tomorrow morning. Usually, they divide up their Best Picture nominees into two lists, Best Picture Drama and Best Picture Musical/Comedy. Last year, they included seven films in their Best Picture Drama list, which is a shame. Hopefully, they will be more selective and decisive this year. Here are our predictions…

Best Picture Drama:

Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Revolutionary Road
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Milk

Best Picture Musical/Comedy:

Wall-E
Rachel Getting Married
Burn After Reading
Mamma Mia
Happy Go Lucky

Hanger

The New York Film Critics Association selected Milk as best picture, and awarded the film’s stars, Josh Brolin and Sean Penn, best supporting actor and best actor awards respectively. Happy-Go-Lucky also picked up awards for best actress (Sally Hawkins) and best director (Mike Leigh).

Best Actor: Sean Penn, Milk

Best Actress: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best Animated Film: WALL-E

Best Cinematographer: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire

Best Director: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky

Best First Film: Courtney Hunt, Frozen River

Best Foreign Film: 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days

Best Non-Fiction Film (Documentary): Man…
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This looks to be one of those years where the early critics’ groups split their awards. First, the National Board of Review annointed “Slumdog Millionaire,” but then the LA Film Critics swooped in and threw everyone for a loop by picking “Wall-E.” We think the NYFCC will also go in a different direction. Past winners include “Sideways,” Topsy-Turvy,” and “Return of the King.” This could be shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Oscar races in many, many years. Here are our projections:

Best Picture: The Dark Knight

Best Actor: Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon

Best Actress…
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Wall-E was a surprise winner for Best Picture at the Los Angeles Film Critic Awards (LAFCA) yesterday. The runner-up for Best Picture is The Dark Knight. Heath Ledger won best supporting actor.

Thanks to Diego for posting the results yesterday in our comments!

DIRECTOR: Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

ACTRESS: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Runner-up: Melissa Leo, Frozen River

ACTOR: Sean Penn, Milk

Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

SCREENPLAY: Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky

Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and…
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