Oscar nomination predictions

I kind of like movies. And I have a slight habit of attempting to predict the nominees (and eventual winners) of the Academy Awards each year.

The 2006 Oscar nominations will be announced this Tuesday, January 31 at 8 a.m. EST (any major network, news network or entertainment channel will most likely broadcast the announcement).

Here are my best guesses as to which actors, directors and pictures will receive one (or more) of the coveted nominations:

Best Picture
Brokeback Mountain
Capote
Crash
Good Night, and Good Luck
Walk the Line

Best Actor
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Terrence Howard, Hustle and Flow
Heath Ledger, Brokeback Mountain
Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line
David Strathairn, Good Night, and Good Luck

Best Actress
Judi Dench, Mrs. Henderson Presents
Felicity Huffman, Transamerica
Charlize Theron, North Country
Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Ziyi Zhang, Memoirs of a Geisha

Best Supporting Actor
George Clooney, Syriana
Matt Dillon, Crash
Paul Giamatti, Cinderalla Man
Jake Gyllenhaal, Brokeback Mountain
Donald Sutherland, Pride and Prejudice

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Junebug
Catherine Keener, Capote
Frances McDormand, North Country
Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
Michelle Williams, Brokeback Mountain

Best Director
George Clooney, Good Night, and Good Luck
David Cronenberg, A History of Violence
Paul Haggis, Crash
Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Steven Spielberg, Munich

There are usually a few suprises in the line-up, but I'm genuinely confident with 80% of these predictions. Munich could squeak in for Best Picture (ousting Capote); Jeff Daniels (The Squid and the Whale) could bump Terrence Howard; and the supporting categories are usually good for a surprise or two. But after hours and hours of careful consideration, research, and prayer, these are my picks.