Latest odds provided by bookmakers Betfair have Heath Ledger as a certainty for Best Supporting Actor with odds at 1-25. Current odds place Slumdog Millionaire as favourite for Best Picture at 1-6, Kate Winslet is favoured for Best Actress with odds at 2-5, and Mickey Rourke is narrowly ahead of nearest rival for Best Actor Sean Penn at 4-7. Preparation for Sunday’s ceremony is already underway in LA. Host Hugh Jackman will be performing an opening song and dance routine with Beyonce, Mamma Mia’s Amanda Seyfried and High School Musical 3’s Zac Effron. Peter Gabriel had earlier pulled out of the ceremony after being told he would only be able to perform his Best Song nominee “Down to Earth” as part of a montage with other nominees from the category. The current economic climate appears not to have impacted on organizers plans for gift giveaways. This year presenters and nominees are being offered watches worth between $8,000 and $18,000. Other gifts include a $10,000 holiday package and diamond facials. In other Oscar news, a list naming the winners for this year’s awards supposedly signed by Academy present Sid Ganis that has circulated across the internet had been revealed to be fake. "The document is a complete fraud," Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger said. "PricewaterhouseCoopers is still counting the ballots and there are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony," he added, "the Academy's president is not advised of the winners in advance and no such list is created." The Oscars will be screened on Sky 1 from 11pm on Sunday February 22. The list of nominees are: BEST FILM "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" "Frost/Nixon" "Milk" "The Reader" "Slumdog Millionaire" BEST ACTOR Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor" Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon" Sean Penn, "Milk" Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler" BEST ACTRESS Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married" Angelina Jolie, "Changeling" Melissa Leo, “Frozen River” Meryl Streep, "Doubt" Kate Winslet, "The Reader" BSET DIRECTOR Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"Stephen Daldry, "The Reader" Gus Van Sant, "Milk"David Fincher, "The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button" Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon" BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Josh Brolin, "Milk" Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder" Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt" Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight" Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road” BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Amy Adams, "Doubt" Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"Viola Davis, "Doubt"Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler" For more music and film news click here
Latest odds provided by bookmakers Betfair have Heath Ledger as a certainty for Best Supporting Actor with odds at 1-25.
Current odds place Slumdog Millionaire as favourite for Best Picture at 1-6, Kate Winslet is favoured for Best Actress with odds at 2-5, and Mickey Rourke is narrowly ahead of nearest rival for Best Actor Sean Penn at 4-7.
Preparation for Sunday’s ceremony is already underway in LA. Host Hugh Jackman will be performing an opening song and dance routine with Beyonce, Mamma Mia’s Amanda Seyfried and High School Musical 3’s Zac Effron. Peter Gabriel had earlier pulled out of the ceremony after being told he would only be able to perform his Best Song nominee “Down to Earth” as part of a montage with other nominees from the category.
The current economic climate appears not to have impacted on organizers plans for gift giveaways. This year presenters and nominees are being offered watches worth between $8,000 and $18,000. Other gifts include a $10,000 holiday package and diamond facials.
In other Oscar news, a list naming the winners for this year’s awards supposedly signed by Academy present Sid Ganis that has circulated across the internet had been revealed to be fake. “The document is a complete fraud,” Academy spokeswoman Leslie Unger said. “PricewaterhouseCoopers is still counting the ballots and there are only two people there who will know the complete list of winners in advance of the envelopes being opened during the ceremony,” he added, “the Academy’s president is not advised of the winners in advance and no such list is created.”
The Oscars will be screened on Sky 1 from 11pm on Sunday February 22.
The list of nominees are:
BEST FILM
“The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” “Frost/Nixon” “Milk” “The Reader” “Slumdog Millionaire”
BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor” Frank Langella, “Frost/Nixon” Sean Penn, “Milk” Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married” Angelina Jolie, “Changeling” Melissa Leo, “Frozen River” Meryl Streep, “Doubt” Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
BSET DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”Stephen Daldry, “The Reader” Gus Van Sant, “Milk”David Fincher, “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” Ron Howard, “Frost/Nixon”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, “Milk” Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder” Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt” Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “Doubt” Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”Viola Davis, “Doubt”Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button” Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
For more music and film news click here
