Early Best Picture Predictions

Roads to Oscar's season opening Best Picture picks:

1) The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

A film that is generating the most buzz to start the year. Many feel that David Fincher is long overdue (Se7en, Fight Club, Zodiac), especially when it comes to Zodiac which was the second most loved film by critics last year. Brad Pitt stars in the leading role, which the Academy like as an actor but dislikes his tabloid presence.

2) The Exchange (The Changeling)

Clint Eastwood's recently renamed drama about a mother who's child is kidnapped. The word from Cannes is that it's phenomenal and Eastwood hasn't lost his touch at all. The Academy loves Eastwood, but not Jolie lately, as she was severely snubbed a nomination last year for A Mighty Heart.

3) Australia

Baz Luhrmann's newest work. The trailer looks great and the buzz is strong. The real question is, we know it will be beautiful, but will it have depth?

4) Defiance

A holocaust story that never has been told hits right at the hearts of the Academy. Liv Schreiber is said to steal the show in this Edward Zwick film. The only issue is that Zwick is hit or miss a lot of the time. Blood Diamond was a good film, but this will need to be much better.

5) The Reader

We're taking a bit of a stab on this one, but Stephen Daldry (The Hours, Billy Elliot) is usually a hit with the Academy. With Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes it certainly has the star power to remain noticed.

Coming tomorrow...The Lead Acting categories