Oscar Odds Favor "Slumdog," Ledger

Early Show Saturday Edition Features Predictions Of Experts From "Entertainment Weekly," Las Vegas

(CBS)  The suspense finally ends Sunday with Hollywood's biggest night - the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

So, who'll walk away with the famous gold hardware?

The Early Show Saturday Edition sought predictions from Dalton Ross, assistant managing editor of Entertainment Weekly magazine, and Jay Kornegay, executive director of the Las Vegas Hilton SuperBook.

Best Supporting Actor

Ross: "Heath Ledger is a lock. I'll be shock, shocked, shocked if he doesn't win. There is no next time for him - this is it."

Kornegay:
Josh Brolin, "Milk," 14-1
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight," 1-9 (favorite)
Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder," 20-1
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt," 8-1
Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road," 16-1

Best Supporting Actress

Ross: "It's a two-horse race between Penelope Cruz and Viola Davis. Davis is very powerful in her two scenes, and Judi Dench won a few years back for an even smaller role in "Shakespeare in Love," but I'd put my money on Cruz."

Kornegay:
Amy Adams, "Doubt," 7-1
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," 5-7 (favorite)
Viola Davis, "Doubt," 4-1
Taraji P. Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 8-1
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler," 8-1

Best Actor

Ross: "Again, a two-horse race, Sean Penn vs. Mickey Rourke. I personally think Sean Penn will win. I also think politics will play a part, with Prop 8 fresh on many Academy minds." Penn ("Milk") played Harvey Milk, California's first openly-gay elected official, a San Francisco supervisor who was assassinated, along with Mayor George Moscone, by San Francisco Supervisor Dan White. Penn also spoke out openly and forcefully against Proposition 8, which basically banned same-sex marriage.

Kornegay:
Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor," 17-1
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon," 6-1
Sean Penn, "Milk," 2-1
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 14-1
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler," 5-6 (favorite)

Best Actress

Ross: "I think it goes to Kate Winslet. Everyone initially thought she'd get nominated for "Revolutionary Road," so this was a surprise. She's long overdue, and the Academy knows it."

Kornegay:
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married," 2-1
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling," 14-1
Melissa Leo, "Frozen River," 16-1
Meryl Streep, "Doubt," 4-1
Kate Winslet, "The Reader," even (favorite)

Best Picture

Ross: "I think it's a slam dunk for "Slumdog." Some people are saying it might have peaked too early, but I don't believe it."

Kornegay:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," 6-1
"Frost/Nixon," 18-1
"Milk," 8-1
"The Reader," 20-1
"Slumdog Millionaire," 1-3 (favorite)

What does Ross think of first-time host Hugh Jackman?

"They are being very hush-hush. One thing, though, is they've promised fewer montages, which is a good thing! Jackman has hosted the Tony Awards before, so he can do it. He's not a cutthroat comedian, so expect fewer pot-shots. Overall though, I expect him to do a solid job."

[one4gipper]

Who will win? The bigger question is who cares? Anyone with one ounce of insight can see what the Hollywood culture has done to this country. Not being content with the demise of America, Hollywood icons prop up tyrants like Hugo Chavez and Fidel Castro. Cases in point, Keven Spacey, Sean Penn, Danny Glover, Oliver Stone. What is so vile about Hollywood that it would support Fidel Castro, who imprisoned and tortured thousands of "counter revolutionaries." Why would Kevin Spacey put himself in photo ops with Hugo Chavez, the man who has single-handedly brought down Venezuela? These are the celebrities that we admire? Are we all bent on suiside? Wake up America, read a book. Stop giving your money to the vile repugnant cesspool the lies just north of LA.

[mihann]

Ledger is dead. He'll win. Seen it a million times. The Oscars are just a "meat parade" for brainless teens.

[ocasanas]

Although I am against the Oscars frivolity during this recession, I am for "Slumdog millionaire" to win, in hopes that it might help at least bring awareness that there are very poor people around the world, living with nothing else that what they carry (i.e.: their clothes). America, Europe, Japan, and all the rich countries should learn to share wealth, even if we lost a lot of it. People in the slums haven't lost anything this year (because they had nothing to loose anyway) and a lot to hope for. How about if movies competing for an Oscar should give 10% of their proceeds to the Academy, which in turn would pass those funds to poor countries/people in need?