2008 Oscars. I’ve listed the nominations in the important categories and my tips for the winners. Those who know my political predictions might want to tread carefully!

Best Actor. George Clooney, Daniel Day-Lewis, Johnny Depp, Tommy Lee-Jones, Viggo Mortensen.

Stand out winner Daniel Day-Lewis.

Best Supporting Actor. Casey Affleck, Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Hal Holbrook, Tom Wilkinson.

The bookies favourite and the safe bet is Javier Bardem in ‘No Country’. A modern Frankenstein! Casey Affleck has a tiny outside chance. Forget the others.

Best Actress. Cate Blanchett (‘Elizabeth’), Julie Christie, Marion Cotillard, Laura Linney, Ellen Page.

I’d go for the excellent Marion Cotilllard in ‘La Vie en Rose’ though I expect Julie Christie to be odds on favourite.

Best Actress in a supporting role. Cate Blanchett (‘I’m not there’), Ruby Dee, Saorise Ronan, Amy Ryan, Tilda Swinton,

Very high standard. I’d go for Cate Blanchett who I expect to be favourite. For those who want a British outsider Saorise Ronan was very good in Atonement. If it’s a sentimental year Ruby Dee in ‘American Gangster’ could get it.

Best Animation. ‘Persepolis’, ‘Ratatouille’, ‘Surf’s up’.

Runnaway winner ‘Ratatouille!’. Put your house on it. You’ll need to to make it worthwhile.

Best Art Direction. ‘American Gangster’, ‘Atonement’, ‘The Golden Compass’, ‘Sweeny Todd’, ‘There will be Blood’.

I’d give it to ‘Sweeny Todd’ for it’s originality though for those looking for an English film ‘Atonement’ is a contender and without the budget of the others.

Best Cinematography. ‘The Assasination of Jesse James’, ‘Atonement’, ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’, ‘No Country for Old Men’, ‘There Will Be Blood’.

For me it has to be ‘Jesse James’ which was a fine looking film. ‘No Country for Old Men’ was a very close second and almost certainly the bookies favourite. Either way a great night for Roger Deakins from Torquay who was DOP on both. Seamus McGarvey from Northern Ireland for ‘Atonement’ is a good long shot.

Best Director. ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’, ‘Juno’, ‘Michael Clayton’, ‘No Country For Old Men’, ‘There Will Be Blood’.

The Coen Brothers are likely favourites for ‘No Country’. My choice too for their originality. I’d also be tempted to take a long-shot on Julian Schnabel for the brilliant ‘The Diving Bell and the Butterfly’.

Best Film. ‘Atonement’, ‘Juno’, ‘Michael Clayton’, ‘No Country for Old Men’, ‘There will be Blood’.

Between ‘No Country’ and There will be Blood’. I’m going to go for ‘No Country’ . Those looking for an outsider might take a chance on the very quirky ‘Juno’.

Finally four miscellaneous categories worth a wager.

Best Original Script. ‘Juno’. Possibly also the bookies favourite.

Best Editing. ‘The Bourne Ultimatum’. Probably longish odds and an English Director. A very good bet.

Best Make-up. ‘La Vie en Rose’. Coutillard is Piaf and you can’t ask for more.

Best Adapted script. ‘Atonement’. The only one of nominated books I’ve read and in my opinion Christopher Hampton improved on the original.

Betting on the Oscars – a full range of markets is here.

Roger is a long-standing contributor to PBC and when he is not posting here he makes movies.