Las Vegas Odds For This Year's OSCAR Awards

Cafe Society
1

The Las Vegas odds* have come out for the Oscars.

According to the column NORM in the Las Vegas Review Journal:

"Steven Spielberg’s anticipated blockbuster, “Munich,” is favored to win the Academy Award for best film, and “Walk the Line” star Reese Witherspoon should run away with best actress.

That’s the early word from John Avello, director of race sports operations at the Wynn Las Vega

Avello, who puts the odds up for entertainment purposes only, has Phillip Seymour Hoffman, the star of “Capote,” a narrow favorite for best actor over Joaquin Phoenix, who plays Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.”

“Munich” is a 5-1 favorite. Second choice “Brokeback Mountain” is 7-1, “Memoirs of a Geisha,” 8-1, “Good Night and Good Luck,” 10-1, and “Walk the Line,” 12-1.

Avello has Witherspoon at 4-1 and Judy Dench, “Mrs. Henderson Presents,” at 5-1.

Spielberg is the 2-1 choice for best director. Ang Lee, “Brokeback Mountain,” is 4-1, and Ron Howard, “Cinderella Man,” 6-1."

However, if you read the film reviews in The Hollywood Reporter, these odds might not be all that accurate. Plus, the LA Film Critics just named Brokeback Mountain as Best Film Of The Year and Ang Lee as Best Director (see article in Hollywood Reporter).

Feel free to comment on the odds.

(* Even though they give the “odds” in Las Vegas, it is illegal to bet on the Oscars in Las Vegas.)

2

It’s far, far too early to set such specific odds. The voting season can change favourites, depending on who runs a good campaign or who’s too in the face of the Academy.

I agree Reese Witherspoon looks very good for Best Actress, though; it seems that recently Best Actress awards go to young, pretty actresses in key dramatic breakout roles.

I will be quite surprised if Ron Howard is nominated for the largely forgotten “Cinderella Man.”