2008 Holiday Oscar Hopefuls

What It's About: Brad Pitt stars as the title character in this fantasy drama based on a story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Benjamin Button suffers from an extremely rare condition in this curious tale of a man who starts life as a senior citizen and ages backwards.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button's Pedigree: Directed by critically acclaimed filmmaker David Fincher and starring Oscar nominee Brad Pitt (Twelve Monkeys) and Cate Blanchett (one Oscar win for The Aviator and four additional nominations).

Awards Potential: After working together on Se7en and Fight Club, the third time might be the charm for the actor/director team. Plus, Blanchett's a fav with voters and Taraji Henson's supporting performance is drawing a lot of attention.

What It's About: Based on true events, Defiance takes place in 1941 and tells the story of three Jewish brothers whose struggle to survive against the Nazis inspires others to join in their battle and avenge the deaths of their loved ones.

Defiance's Pedigree: Director Edward Zwick won an Oscar for producing Shakespeare in Love and was nominated for Traffic. Daniel Craig was nominated for the British equivalent of the Best Actor Oscar for Casino Royale.

Awards Potential: While Edward Zwick's direction has taken a few hits, everyone seems to be full of praise for Daniel Craig's starring turn in this period piece. That said, Defiance has to be considered a real longshot in all categories including Best Actor as the buzz just isn't building.

What It's About: A priest is accused of inappropriate behavior with a young African-American boy in this gripping drama based on a stage play.

Doubt's Pedigree: Meryl Streep (14 total Oscar nominations and 2 wins), Philip Seymour Hoffman (2 nominations, 1 win), and Oscar nominee Amy Adams head up the cast.

Awards Potential: All the lead actors could see their names included on the short list of Oscar nominees along with Viola Davis who in one short scene guarantees consideration in the Supporting Actress category. Doubt may also be up for a Best Picture Oscar, although a Best Director nod is unlikely. The film's direction by writer John Patrick Shanley is the one negative brought up in most reviews.

What It's About: Another film based on a true story, Frost/Nixon chronicles the story behind David Frost's interviews with Richard Nixon.

Frost/Nixon's Pedigree: Director/producer Ron Howard won two Oscars for A Beautiful Mind and writer Peter Morgan (he adapted Frost/Nixon from his stage play) was nominated for an Oscar for The Queen.

Awards Potential: Frank Langella's nearly a lock for a Best Actor nod for his portrayal of disgraced ex-President Nixon, and Howard may pick up Best Director and Best Picture nominations once again. Although the movie's loaded with terrific supporting performances (Michael Sheen's totally convincing as Frost), so far none of the cast aside from Langella has been mentioned as having a shot at an Oscar.

What It's About: Clint Eastwood directs himself as Walt Kowalski, a Korean War veteran forced to face his prejudices.

Gran Torino's Pedigree: Eastwood has 10 Oscar nominations with 4 wins.

Awards Potential: Eastwood also directed 2008's Changeling which for a while looked to be his entry into the 2009 Oscars. But when Changeling didn't light the world on fire, all eyes shifted to Gran Torino as the film most likely to earn Eastwood awards consideration. The last time he directed himself (in 2004's Million Dollar Baby), Eastwood picked up Oscars for directing and Best Picture. Hilary Swank also earned her second Oscar for Best Actress and Morgan Freeman picked up his first for Best Supporting Actor.

What It's About: The true story of Harvey Milk's rise from small business owner to the first openly gay man elected to public office. Milk and San Francisco Mayor Moscone were shot down by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White, and Milk shows the events that led up to those murders.

Milk's Pedigree: Oscar nominee Gus Van Sant (Good Will Hunting), Sean Penn (one Oscar and three additional nominations), and red-hot James Franco and Josh Brolin.

Awards Potential: Milk may be in the running for a Best Picture nod, Penn is terrific as Milk (it's an understated performance), and Franco may even earn some consideration in the Supporting Actor category.

What It's About: 15 year old Michael Berg loses his virginity to Hanna, an older woman who enjoys listening to him read as much as she enjoys the sex. Years later while in college, Michael discovers Hanna has a disturbing past.

The Reader's Pedigree: 5-time Oscar nominee Kate Winslet, 2-time Oscar nominee Ralph Fiennes, and director Stephen Daldry (2-time Oscar nominee for The Hours and Billy Elliot).

Awards Potential: Kate Winslet's in an interesting position of having to campaign for her role in The Reader to be considered in the Supporting Actress category rather than Best Actress (even though her character Hanna is onscreen more than any other character) because she's also getting Best Actress consideration for Revolutionary Road.

What It's About: A young couple handle relationship issues while trying to fulfill their dreams.

Revolutionary Road's Pedigree: Oscar winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty), 3-time Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio, and 5-time Oscar nominee Kate Winslet (who's married to Mendes).

Awards Potential: Not to be confused with last year's tanker Reservation Road, this drama has a lot of hype surrounding it based on the two main stars. Titanic's DiCaprio and Winslet reunite for another romantic tale, and it's Winslet who's earning some awards buzz for this one. Which, while never a bad thing, puts her in a precarious position of having to worry about voters splitting their support between her performance in this and her amazing turn in The Reader.

What It's About: Will Smith, the king of summer blockbusters, plays an IRS agent who tries to make up for his past misdeeds by helping seven strangers in Seven Pounds (the weight of the human heart).

Seven Pounds's Pedigree: Will Smith has two Best Actor Oscar nominations for dramatic pieces: Ali and The Pursuit of Happyness.

Awards Potential: The last time Smith teamed up with director Gabriele Muccino he picked up his second Oscar nod. And in another weak year for supporting actresses, Rosario Dawson's getting a lot of awards-type mention as Smith's love interest who has a heart problem.

What It's About: Aging wrestler Randy 'The Ram' Robinson has lived a hard life with not much to show for it. Barely able to afford rent, The Ram continues to perform for wrestling fans in tiny venues just for the love of the sport.

The Wrestler's Pedigree: Critically acclaimed filmmaker Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) teams up with critically acclaimed but troubled actor Mickey Rourke. Best Supporting Actress Oscar winner Marisa Tomei stands out in a supporting role.

Awards Potential: Aronofsky stuck his neck out hiring Rourke and the bold move paid off. Rourke delivers his best performance ever as an old wrestler who can't leave the ring behind even when his heart can't physically handle the strain.