2009 Academy Award nominations / 2009 Oscar nominees list

In a few hours, the 2009 Academy Award nominations / 2009 Academy Award nominees will be announced in Hollywood ending weeks of speculation on who will get the distinction of forever being known as an Oscar nominee, the second most coveted title in Hollywood after "Oscar winner". As in previous years, the announcement of the 2009 Oscar nominations / 2009 Oscar nominees will be done at the unholy hour of 5 AM when most everyone is still in deep slumber. But for Hollywood, this is one of the best days of the year to be up early, especially if you're gunning for an Oscar nomination / Academy Award nomination. The Grammys have done away with this tradition

this year, opting for a nomination announcement concert instead. But the Oscars seems to sticking with tradition. (Image source: MisterMad)

Who are up for Academy Award nominations this year? Well, for one, Slumdog Millionaire. The movie has been showered with nominations and wins from different critics, press and guild awards that it is certain to be one of the 2009 Oscar nominees for Best Film. And expect it to get a few more in the different categories as well. The nominations Best Director, Screenplay, Editing, among others, will likely include Slumdog Millionaire. Other films to watch out for are the Brad Pitt starrer The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino, and Meryl Streep's Doubt. Also, with a Golden Globe nomination to its credit, Revolutionary Road is expected to be in the 2009 Academy Awards nominees list as well.

In the acting categories, though there is no clear favorite for the win as of yet, the nominations will almost certainly include the names of Meryl Streep, Ann Hathaway and Angelina Jolie. And, with a double win in the Golden Globes recently, Kate Winslet is a sure nominee is at least one acting category, if not both. On the actors' side of the fence, the names of Brad Pitt, Sean Penn (for Milk) and Mickey Rourke (for The Wrestler) will certainly be shoo ins this year. And how about Dev Patel of Slumdog Millionaire? Well, he has never figured well in other awards (except fro Most Promising Newcomer) but the tide of interest carried by Slumdog Millionaire may just land him a 2009 Oscar nomination for Best Actor. Clint Eastwood may also figure in the least. He is a perennial Oscar favorite after all.

Snubs? Will there be a major Oscar snub this year? Who knows. There have been some disappointed potential nominees in the past years and there may be some again this year. Let's just wait for the 2009 Academy Awards nominations / 2009 Oscar nominees to be revealed later. The full list will be posted here as soon as the list is revealed so please check back regularly.

BTW, Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight is another almost-certain nominee. His wins and nominations from other awards organizations, plus the sentiment carried by his death last year, bolster his chances of an Oscar nomination (and win) this year.