The Top 20 2008 Oscar Contenders

Writer/Director Terry George's first film since 2004's "Hotel Rwanda" seems like one of the safest picks come Oscar-time. The story calls for groups of strong performances, and with an Oscar-friendly cast (winners: Jennifer Connelly and Mira Sorvino, nominee: Joaquin Phoenix), even if the film doesn't get buzz, its cast will.

The novel was a huge success, and Marc Foster (Monster's Ball, Finding Neverland, Stranger than Fiction) is one of those young and upcoming directors looking for his first Oscar nomination. The film will likely generate a lot of buzz; however, a cast of virtually all unknowns may hurt Kite Runner's chances.

Brothers Joel and Ethan Coen are perhaps the best team working in film today. After creating modern classics such as The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona, and most notably Fargo, the brothers have managed to be a rare comedic source for quality, embraceable films. No Country for Old Men looks to be another wonderful glimpse in the Coen brothers' extraordinary ability to create wonderful characters of a certain region and intertwine them in a great story. The trailer looks almost like a Western remake of Fargo, which is by no means an insult.

Tom Hanks. Julia Roberts. Mike Nichols. Aaron Sorkin. All four haven't had overwhelming critical success in the past couple years, but Charlie Wilson's War is an easy step back to their former glory. Provided critics are on board, look for all four to get an Oscar nomination, as well as Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the film itself. Charlie Wilson's War is a bit of a gamble, but if it hits, it will be HUGE.

If Charlie's Wilson War is supposed to be a return to greatness for its cast and crew, American Gangster is twice that. Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, and Ridley Scott are all regular nominees a few years seperated from their last honor. American Gangster is already getting heavy comparisons to last year's BP winner The Departed, which won't help at all, but provided the film is not simply a commercial draw, American Gangster could be huge at the AMPAS. Side note: Cuba Gooding, Jr., perhaps the Oscar-winner with the biggest post-win fall, could have a return to glory as heroin dealer Nicky Barnes.

Paul Thomas Anderson is one of the young up-and-coming greats. Films like Magnolia and Boogie Nights proved that he has extreme talent, and with There Will Be Blood, he finally has a film that sounds like an Oscar contender. Daniel Day-Lewis doesn't do films often, but looks like a lock for a Best Actor nomination, and don't be surprised to see Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine) get a supporting actor nomination, too. If There Will Be Blood is embraced, it could be P.T. Anderson's first film to get a lot of Academy Award nominations (possibly wins).

Robert Redford doesn't direct very often, but it's been a long time since he's received an Oscar nomination, let alone a win. With a great cast, starring Redford himself, along side record-holder in Oscar nominations Meryll Streep, and the very love him/hate him Tom Cruise, Lion For Lambs, if embraced by critics, could become a strong force in the AMPAS.

Despite being a huge success in the cult world, Tim Burton has not had much awards success. He received his first Oscar nomination a couple years ago for Corpse Bride, but it may be the long-awaited adaptation of this dark musical that could earn Tim Burton a Best Director nomination. It helps that the film stars everyone's favorite actor Johnny Depp.

Aside from its excellent cast (on the rise: Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon, veteran: Alan Arkin, all-time leader: Meryll Streep), Rendition is directed by Gavin Hood, the man behind Tsotsi, the film which won Best Foreign Film two years ago. The film may ultimately be more commercially appealing than awards bait, but only time will tell.

For the AMPAS, Paul Haggis can do no wrong. He has received screenplay credit for two of the last three Best Picture winners, including the HUGE surprise Crash. In the Valley of Elah has been picking up a lot of buzz of recent, and it only looks like it will continue to do so until it finally drops late September. With a great cast (Tommy Lee Jones, Susan Sarandon, and Charlize Theron), if embraced, the film will sweep the Oscars.

The Academy fell in love with George Clooney a couple years ago and this film, the directorial debut of Tony Gilroy (writer of the Bourne series), will be a great vehicle for him to gain another Oscar nomination, possibly a win. Tom Wilkinson and Tilda Swinton lead a great ensemble cast, so expect a supporting nomination or two, but provided Michael Clayton is more than an acting showcase, it could prove to be a force come Oscar time.

The original Elizabeth got seven Academy Award nominations, including a Best Picture nomination and Cate Blanchett's first nomination. The Academy is not too hot on sequels, but a period piece with so much behind it could be another repeat of Oscar-success. Look for Clive Owen to make a serious run for another Oscar nomination.

British romance films tend to fill nominations at the AMPAS, and this one, set during war and starring the ever-more popular Keira Knightley and James McAvoy will likely get a lot of buzz upon its release, but it would be surprising if it gets more than one or two nominations (despite excellent buzz).

It's being marketed in a very commercial sense, but with people like James Mangold (somehow Academy Award nomination-less), Russel Crowe (due for another Oscar nomination), and Christian Bale (the best actor without an Oscar nomination) involved, the film will undoubtedly get strong buzz. Then again, it's been a while since a Western had an impact at the Oscars.

Director David Cronenberg was unjustly shutout of a nomination for A History of Violence, but Eastern Promises looks to be in the same gritty style that will generate a lot of hype. He re-teams with Viggo Mortenson, and this time Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel costar. Normally, a film like this may be overlooked at the Oscars, but it'd be foolish to count it out after Cronenberg's work on A History of Violence.

After over a year of delays and stories of editing problems, the film finally is getting some strong buzz and a suggestive release date. Westerns have been extinct from the Oscars for some time, but TAOJJBTCRF (long title) supposedly has enough going for it that it could surprise some people and beat a lot of expectations.

One of the Academy's favorite actors, Sean Penn, steps behind the camera as a writer/director of this outdoorsy adventure/drama. Coming of age films like this aren't always Oscar material, but Emile Hirsch is a great up-and-coming actor, and Vince Vaughn is a widely loved actor, who has the capability to excel, despite being in a serious role. It's by no means a front runner, but it could be one of those films that just hits the right note upon its September 21st release.

A Woody Allen film MUST be included in the Oscar conversation, despite what appears to be a waning amount of talent (at least comedic talent). His last serious film, Match Point, was very well received, and proved that Allen has a lot to offer aside from his comedy. Cassandra's Dream has slowly been gaining buzz, and the trailer looks like the film could be something special. The cast all look prime for Academy Award nominations, so come the November 30th release, Cassandra's Dream may end up as a strong player come Oscar-time...and if not, it could easily be another number in Woody Allen's record-breaking Screenplay nominations.

Any Ang Lee film must be considered a contender (other than The Hulk, that is), and Lust, Caution is next. It recently received an NC-17 rating, which surprisingly, Focus Features has accepted. Who knows if the Academy can accept a film racy enough to earn such a harsh rating, but what is known is that if Ang Lee has made an NC-17 film, he did so for good reason, and likely has a spellbinding film in store for its audience.

The only film on this list to have been released thus far, Once is this year's "little film that could." Made for only $150,000, Once has a great story behind it, and is a movie musical for people who don't like Hollywood's movie musicals. A beautiful love story that isn't about people being in love as much as falling for one another. Once has been gaining enough support to contend for "the 5th Best Picture slot," but it needs some bigger films to be failures.