10 days from now we will witness the biggest night of the year for everyone in the film industry. The 81st Annual Academy awards will take place on 22nd February 2009. The awards will be presented by Australia and X-Men star High Jackman, and is set to be a massive night for the British Film Industry.

Although I don't often pay much attention to whether a film has won awards when I am deciding whether I will watch it or not, it has occasional swayed my opinion and so I can see why they are seen as important in the film industry.

With just 10 days to go until the event I thought it would be good to cast my eyes over the nominations. Because I really can't give an opinion on some of the categories I will just offer my opinion on the categories I have something valuable to sat about.

Award: Best Picture
Nominations: The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire

Obviously one of the most prestigious awards at the Oscars, the film that wins it is generally pretty good. The two front runners without a doubt are Slumdog Millionaire and Benjamin Button. However, having seen both films as well as dominating the BAFTA's I can only see one winner, Slumdog Millionaire. The Reader and Milk are following closely behind the two frontrunners. However, I can't see either of them winning although Milk has the better chance simply because it is about an iconic American Politician. For me Frost/Nixon has just managed sneak in there ahead of the likes of The Dark Knight and Wall-E although the latter never really stood a chance being an animated film.

Award: Actor In A Leading Role
Nominations: Richard Jenkins (The Visitor), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk), Brad Pitt (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button), Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

I am sure it is a real professional achievment for any actor to have his work recognised by an Oscar. Mickey Rourke won the BAFTA for Best Actor and I feel he has prbably done just enough to win the Oscar. For me this is a very tight category with Sean Penn and Brad Pitt also in with a good chance and Pitt would fully deserve it if it came his way. However, don't forget about Richard Jenkins and Frank Langella who can't be written off.

Award: Actor In A Supporting Role
Nominations: Josh Brolin (Milk), Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder), Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight), Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)

Another great award to win and I really hope it goes to Heath Ledger. He absolutley deserves it for his role as the manic Joker in The Dark Knight. However, Josh Brolin and Phillip Seymour Hoffman have a very good chance with Robert Downey Jr and Michael Shannon the outsiders. Surely the award will go to Ledger though.

Award: Actress In A Lead Role
Nominations: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changleing), Melissa Leo (Frozen River), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Kate Winslet (The Reader)

Like the award for Best Actor the Best Actress Award is a great professional achievment. Although I don't know too much about the films these Actresses appear in, I still feel that Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep are the frontrunners. I really can't see any of the other three contenders taking the award and it will be a close one between Streep and Winslet.

Award: Actress In A Supporting Role
Nominations: Amy Adams (Doubt), Penelope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona), Viola Davis (Doubt), Taraji P. Henson (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button), Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Again a great achievment but like the Best Actor award I am not that familiar with the films involved. I really can't seperate the nominees. It would be nice to see Taraji P. Henson win for her role as Benjamin Button's adopted mother. However, I see the award going to Penelope Cruz.

Award: Best Direction
Nominations: David Fincher (The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button), Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon), Gus Van Sant (Milk), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)

A great achievment for any director and defintley one of the bigger awards. I think Danny Boyle will take this and similarly to the best picture category David Fincher will be close behind. I don't think any of the other nominees are in with a serious chance after all, traditionally the winner of the Best Picture Award wins the Best Director Award.

They are the main awards and I will simply list the nominations and who I think will win for the final few as I have little opinion on them but can predict who will win.

Award: Animated Feature Film
Nominations: Bolt, Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E
Winner: Wall-E

Award: Adapted Screenplay
Nominations: Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt, Frost/Nixon, The Reader
Winner: Slumdog Millionaire or The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

So there we have it my opinion on the 81st Annual Academy Awards. Obviously these are just my opinions and some people will probably disagree with what I have said.