If the Oscars were today...

If the Oscars were today and it was up to me, here's what I'm nominate and award based on what I've seen so far this year.

Best Picture
>American Gangster
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Gone Baby Gone
In the Valley of Elah
Into the Wild

American Gangster is the best movie I've seen this year; not a dull moment in its 2.5 hrs. The other movies here all all still very good, and Michael Clayton was close to making my list too. Yet to come: Atonement, Charlie Wilson's War, Juno, The Kite Runner, No Country for Old Men, Sweeney Todd, There Will Be Blood.

Best Actor
>Denzel Washington, American Gangster
Casey Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Emile Hirsch, Into the Wild
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah

As with last year, the male categories are going to be mega competitive this year. All the of above were fantastic, with Denzel getting it for now if only because he was such a big part of why American Gangster was so amazing. But that can be said for Casey, Emilie, and Tommy too. Russell Crowe was also great in American Gangster, but it's unclear at this point whether he'll be pushed in the lead or supporting category. Ditto for Casey Affleck in The Assassination of Jesse James, his other brilliant performance. Not yet seen: Josh Brolin (No Country for Old Men), Daniel Day Lewis (There Will Be Blood), Johnny Depp (Sweeney Todd), Tom Hanks (Charlie Wilson's War), James McAvoy (Atonement).

Actress
>Julie Christie, Away from Her
Keri Russell, Waitress

Also as with last year, the best actress category isn't looking very competitive; I can't even fill the five slots yet! Unfortunately, a lot of the potential leading actress nominees weren't in very great movies (which I didn't bother to see), like Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth 2 Electric Boogaloo or Jodie Foster in The Brave One. Two upcoming movies look like they'll yield great performances: Ellen Page in Juno and Keira Knightley in Atonement. I've also heard that Marion Cotillard was fabulous in La Vie en Rose--I'll have to Netflix it. Also upcoming: Nicole Kidman (Margot at the Wedding), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd), Laura Linney (The Savages)

Supporting Actor
>Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Chris Cooper, Breach
Ethan Hawke, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

I'm such the Casey Affleck fan these days. He's just dynamite here, and so different than in Gone Baby Gone. He easily takes this for me, although Ethan Hawke and Hal Holbrook were very good too. Upcoming performances: Havier Bardem (No Country for Old Men), Phillip Bosco (The Savages), Michael Cera (Juno), Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Charlie Wilson's War).

Supporting Actress
>Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Imelda Staunton, Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton
Marisa Tomei, Before the Devil Knows Your'e Dead

At least I can fill in some names for the supporting actress category. Nothing's really stood out yet, but Amy Ryan, Ruby Dee and Tilda Swinton were all very good. I threw Imelda Staunton in for fun. I don't believe she has any real shot, but of all the class act actors that have played small roles in the Harry Potter films, she's been the best, which is really saying something. Looking forward to seeing: Cate Blanchett (I'm Not There); Romola Garai, Saoirse Ronan, and Vanessa Redrave (Atonement); Jennifer Garner and Allison Janney (Juno); Jennifer Jason Leigh (Margot at the Wedding); Julia Roberts (Charlie Wilson's War)

Director
>Ridley Scott, American Gangster
Ben Affleck, Gone Baby Gone
Andrew Dominik, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Paul Haggis, In the Valley of Elah
Sean Penn, Into the Wild

Still to see: Coen brothers (No Country for Old Men), Joe Wright (Atonement), Mike Nichols (Charlie Wilson's War), Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood), Marc Forster (The Kite Runner), Tim Burton (Sweeney Todd), Todd Haynes (I'm Not There)