Oscar Nominations

These are my rapid impressions. Milk and Slumdog Millionaire own the conversation. Heath Ledger and Mickey Rourke our sentimental favorites. Everyone vote for them.

Best Motion Picture

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
“Frost\Nixon”
“Milk”
“The Reader”
“Slumdog Millionaire”

Performance by Actor in A Leading Role

Frank Langella “Frost\Nixon”
Richard Jenkins “The Visitor”
Sean Penn “Milk”
Brad Pitt “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Mickey Rourke “The Wrestler”

Performance by Actor in A Supporting Role

Josh Brolin “Milk”
Robert Downey Jr. “Tropic Thunder”
Heath Ledger “The Dark Knight”
Phillip Seymour Hoffman “Doubt”
Michael Shannon “Revolutionary Road”

Performance by Actress in A Leading Role

Anne Hathaway “Rachel Getting Married”
Angelina Jolie “Changeling”
Melissa Leo “Frozen River”
Meryl Streep “Doubt”
Kate Winslet “The Reader”

Performance by Actress in A Supporting Role

Amy Adams “Doubt”
Penelope Cruz “Vicky Christina Barcelona”
Viola Davis “Doubt”
Taraji Henson “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Marisa Tomei “The Wrestler”

Achievement in Directing

Danny Boyle “Slumdog Millionaire”
Stephen Daldry “The Reader”
David Fincher “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Ron Howard “Frost\Nixon”
Gus Van Sant “Milk”

Best Documentary Feature

“The Betrayal”
“Encounters at the End of the World”
“The Garden”
“Man on Wire”
“Trouble the Water”