We will get to see who takes home the highest honor in Hollywood on February 24th, but for now lets check out the nominees.   

Actor In A Leading Role: George Clooney for Michael Clayton, Johnny Depp for Sweeny Todd, Daniel Day Lewis for There Will Be Blood, Tommy Lee Jones for In The Valley of Elah, and Viggo Mortensen for Eastern Promises.  Whoo- talk about competition.  I would really love to see Johnny Depp take home the statue this year.  He has been nominated twice before in 2004 and 2005 but has yet to win.  He is an unbelievable actor and he truly deserves a win.  Hopefully third times a charm, but he has some tough competition from Daniel Day Lewis (another amazing actor) and Viggo Mortensen. 

Actor In A Supporting Role: Cassey Affleck for The Assasination of Jesse James, Javier Bardem for No Country for Old Men, Phillip Seymour Hoffman for Charlie Wilson's War, Hal Holbrook for Into The Wild, and Tom Wilkinson for Michael Clayton. This one is tough.  I think it's going to come down to Javier Bardem, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Hal Holbrook. 

Actress In A Leading Role: Cate Blanchett for Elizabeth the Golden Years, Julie Christie for Away From Her, Marion Cotilliard for La Vie En Rose, Laura Linney for The Savages, and Ellen Paige for Juno.  While I would like to say Cate Blanchett will win, I think it's going to come down to new-comer Ellen Paige or Julie Christie (who won the Golden Globe for this performance)

Actress In A Supporting Role: Cate Blanchett for I'm Not There, Ruby Dee for American Gangster, Saoirse Ronan for Atonement, Amy Ryan for Gone Baby Gone, and Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton.  This is the category where I do think Cate Blanchett will win. These two nominations mark a total of 5 for the actress.  She is such a versitle actress

Directing: The Diving Bell and The Butterfly, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. Im going to say it will come down to No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood.  Paul Thomas Anderson (There Will Be Blood) also wrote the unbelievable script "Magnolia" as well as "Boogie Nights" and Joel and Ethan Cohen (No Country For Old Men) well they are just legends.

Best Picture: Atonement, Juno, Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men, and There Will Be Blood. This is where I'm going to give the statue to Atonement.  This is probably the toughest category of all and so hard to predict.  Juno has a great shot yet so does No Country and Blood. 

I have watched the oscars for the last 16 years and have never missed a show.  There is no way to tell who will win, only who should win.  As you can see Michael Clayton, No Country For Old Men and There Will Be Blood has swept up the noms.  I have learned one thing there are always a few suprise wins. I think we could see some suprise wins from Laura Linney, Casey Affleck, or Amy Ryan.  We have to wait until the 80th Academy Awards to find out!