By Maria Esteves - December 7, 2008

The 81st Academy Awards (Oscar) presented by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) for outstanding film achievements of 2008 nominees will be announced in The Samuel Goldwyn Theater, Beverly Hills, CA, on Thursday, January 22, 2009. The 2009 Oscars will be held at the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA, and televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide by the ABC Television Network, on Sunday, February 22, 2009. This year's Oscar telecast is
directed by Roger Goodman, produced by Laurence Mark and executive producer Bill Condon. The 2009 Oscars predictions by category are:

Best Picture

* AUSTRALIA, (20th Century Fox)
* DOUBT, (Miramax)
* MILK, (Focus Features)
* REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, (DreamWorks)
* SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, (Fox Searchlight)
* THE DARK KNIGHT, (Warner Brothers)
* THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, (Paramount)
* WALL-E, (Buena Vista Pictures)

Best Actor

* LEONARDO DICAPRIO for REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
* CLINT EASTWOOD for GRAN TORINO
* RICHARD JENKINS for THE VISITOR
* FRANK LANGELLA for FROST/NIXON
* SEAN PENN for MILK
* BRAD PITT for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
* MICKEY ROURKE for THE WRESTLER

Best Actress

* ANNE HATHAWAY for RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
* ANGELINA JOLIE for CHANGELING
* MELISSA LEO for FROZEN RIVER
* MERYL STREEP for DOUBT
* KRISTEN SCOTT THOMAS for I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG
* KATE WINSLET for REVOLUTIONARY

Best Supporting Actor

* JOSH BROLIN for MILK
* JAMES FRANCO for MILK
* JASON BUTLER HARNER for CHANGELING
* PHILLIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN for DOUBT
* HEATH LEDGER for THE DARK KNIGHT

Best Supporting Actress

* PENELOPE CRUZ for VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA
* VIOLA DAVIS for DOUBT
* TARIJI P. HENSON for THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
* MARISA TOMEI for THE WRESTLER
* KATE WINSLET for THE READER