First Half Oscar Hopefuls (Finale)

Let's play a silly "what if" game. What if the Oscar eligibility period had ended on June 30th, halfway through the year? What do you imagine the Academy voters would go for minus all those Christmas campaigns and precursor suggestions and media hoopla? Here is my guesswork. (NOT how I would vote obviously -–don't be confused)

Best Picture
An Inconvenient Truth makes history becoming the first documentary nominee ever. The Devil Wears Prada, fueled by Streep fanatics and audience love wins a spot. The lovely folksy swansong of A Prairie Home Companion marks the 4th Best Picture nominee for Robert Altman. Akeelah and the Bee surprises to nab the heartwarming 'triumph of the human spirit' slot. United 93 emerges as the frontrunner.

Snubs: Brick, Cars, DaVinci Code, Eight Below, Friends With Money, The Proposition, Superman Returns, Thank You For Smoking and Water

Best Director
Same thing as best picture minus Akeelah and Truth. Those director slots are filled by ascending Bryan Singer for his religious take on Superman Returns and newbie Jason Reitman, son of Ivan, for his political satire Thank You For Smoking.

READ THE REST...
For brief thoughts and conjecture on the other categories, too.

You can also vote on your favorite film of 2006 thus far.