Best actor

Frank Langella. As the disgraced Richard Nixon, hegives an enthralling, career-topping screen performance.He captures the former president's blusterand bravado as well as his awkwardness and schemingintelligence, avoiding caricature by fashioning anindelible character through subtle gestures and fleetingfacial expressions. But he already won a Tony forthe stage role, so the academy might decide to rewardsomeone else.

Sean Penn. His mesmerizing portrayalof Harvey Milk, a slain San Francisco gay rights activistand politician, is breathtaking, but the emotionaland political relevance of Milk's saga may feel all themore timely for academy voters, given thecontroversial outcome of Proposition 8 in California,which made gay marriage illegal.

Best actress

Meryl Streep. She disappears into the role of astern nun and school principal. Every aspect of herperformance — from her Bronx accent to herno-nonsense mannerisms and subtly witheringglances — leaves an indelible impression. But Streep'srecord 15 nominations may work against her.Academy voters expect greatness from her, so shehas to be more than great to win.

Kate Winslet. She ended the yearwith two strong performances. She is nominatedfor playing a former Nazi guard in The Reader, but sheis just as good, if not better, as a depressed housewifein Revolutionary Road. Academy membersmay take both of those performances into account,as well as her five previous nominations, anddetermine that it's Winslet's year.

Best picture

Slumdog Millionaire. This is the year's most epic and exhilarating tale, set in Mumbai. One can be completelyswept up in the sprawling saga and the fates of the characters. It's the movie that captured the most hearts,elicited much discussion and engaged the senses with its kinetic, mesmerizing visuals and captivating score.

Director

Danny Boyle. His direction had the most impact of any this year. His integration of vibrant colors,energetic cinematography and an enthralling non-linear narrative made Boyle's direction the most noteworthy.Boyle's directorial achievements have been admired in the industry since his debutin 1995 with Shallow Grave and his follow-up in 1996 with Trainspotting. It's time.

Supporting actor

Heath Ledger. This is the surest bet of the night. Ledger, who died last year at 28, will be honored for thestartlingly disturbing Joker he so completely embodied in The Dark Knight. But it's not just for the role; it alsoacknowledges a too-short career of highly memorable performances. In some ways,it's a shame that talented actors such as Robert Downey Jr., hilarious as a pompous actor in Tropic Thunder,and Michael Shannon, perfect as a troubled soul in Revolutionary Road, had to compete against him.

Supporting actress

Penelope Cruz. She was a force of nature as the muse to Javier Bardem's smoldering artistin Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The role could easily have slipped into stereotype, but Cruz, switching betweenEnglish and Spanish, made it fascinating, funny and irresistible. There is a tradition of actressesin Woody Allen comedies winning the supporting-actress Oscar. Remember Dianne Wiest in 1994's BulletsOver Broadway and Mira Sorvino in 1995's Mighty Aphrodite. And academy voters are certain to rememberCruz's captivating performance in 2006's Volver, the Spanish film directed by Pedro Almodovarfor which she received a best-actress nomination.