Academy Award nominations for 2009 are in!

...and they are looking good! Especially in the "Best Costume Design" category.

But before I get to all that, I have to say I am excited for a couple of nominations. Sure, I am excited for the expected noms: Meryl, Kate, Mickey, Brad, Anne etc...etc. I am most excited for the nod that Michael Shannon got for Revolutionary Road (click here to check out the interview I did with him). It's definitely a performance that deserves a shot at the bald gold man. I am also all a twitter for Taraji P. Henson, who got a best supporting actress nom for her role as the heartwarming Queenie in the Curious Case of  Benjamin Button.

But on to the Oscar nominees for best costume design in 2009:

Australia

The movie may have gotten lukewarm reviews (I was one of the VERY few that liked it), but the costumes were breathtaking. From the prim and proper aristocratic dresses Nicole Kidman wore to the grimey-chic duds donned by Hugh Jackman. Costume designer Catherine Martin (remember when I interviewed her?) did an amazing job on another Baz Luhrmann epic. Likelihood of winning: MODERATE

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Jacqueline West costumed The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which got the most noms) brilliantly with the dapper charm and beautiful sexiness of the jazz era, giving justice to F. Scott Fitzgerald's short story. Then again, making Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett look good isn't that difficult. Although I loved the look and feel of the movie is up against some other better dressed contenders. Likelihood of winning: LOW

Revolutionary Road

The suburban tale of shattered dreams and damaged love is the perfect example of looking good on the outside and being totally wretched on the inside. Albert Wolsky juxtaposed pristine and proper outfits with fractured souls brilliantly. If he wins, it will be less for the actual costumes and more on characterization. I loved the down and dirtier Mad Men look Wolsky gave Leonardo DiCaprio and the volatile housewife look he gave Kate Winslet. Likelihood of winning: MODERATE

The Duchess

What would this category be without a gorgeous period piece? Usually, movies like The Duchess are a shoe in because of it's elaborate costumes.  Yeah,  this kind of movie usually has the other contenders go, "DAMN!" Costume designer Michael O'Connor should start dusting off a spot on his shelf for a new trophy. Likelihood of winning: HIGH

Milk

The biopic on San Francisco's own Harvey Milk is getting lots o' love from the Academy this year - including a nod for it's retro '70s garb. The vintage soaked costumes Danny Glicker designed for the film illustrate this poingnant era perfectly, but is it enough to get the gold? Likelihood of winning: LOW

What are your predictions for the Academy Awards?

For a full list of  Academy Award nominations, click here.