OSCAR PREDICTION: Actor:
Bill Murray, Lost in Translation -- Should win and will win. Bill Murray has given the performance of his career with his funny and touching portrayal of a man that seems to be disconnected from everything around him until he makes that one special connection.
Ben Kingsley, House of Sand and Fog -- Great, moving performance, but will probably be ignored because he has won before.
Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl -- Could win. Surprise nomination for is humorous portrayal of a pirate in one of the year's biggest surprise hits.
Sean Penn, Mystic River -- Good job, but he was much better in 21 Grams.
Jude Law, Cold Mountain -- No chance. Cold Mountain did not live up to expectations, and he has already said that he should not win.