OPINION: What Exactly Does NINE Have In Store For Itself?...

This is a question that I have been pondering for just about a week now.

Earlier this week, the cast of the upcoming musical Nine joined Oprah on the stage of her talk show, to talk about the film. However, what they also did was spark the idea in my head, that this film has all the makings for a huge Oscar run.

However, in what categories, and for whom?

First, here is the film's synopsis, for those who don't know:

Nine tells the story of Guido Contini (Daniel Day-Lewis), a world famous film director as he confronts an epic mid-life crisis with both creative and personal problems. He must balance the many women of his life, including his wife (Marion Cotillard), his mistress (Penelope Cruz), his film star muse (Nicole Kidman), his confidant and costume designer (Judi Dench), an American fashion journalist (Kate Hudson), the whore from his youth (Fergie) and his mother (Sophia Loren).

The film is a pseudo adaptation of the brilliant and legendary Fellini film, 8 1/2, and features one of the years most star studded casts. Featuring the likes of Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz and even Sophia Loren, the film is easily one of my most anticipated films yet to see, if not the most. It's also one of "the four" that critics have yet to see, in regards to Oscar talk (the other three being Avatar, The Lovely Bones and Invictus).

However, some critics finally got to see the film, and shockingly, to much much applause. Here's the scoop from In Contention:

One guy even said the film was better than “8 1/2” (make of that what you will) before asking a question about Fellini when the session was turned over to questions from the audience. And everyone was certainly in awe of the stars (or their careers, at the very least — gee, I’m cynical.) It seemed that nary an opportunity to applaud was missed.

The biggest closing credit ovations, by my ear, in order of, I don’t know, loudness: Sophia Loren, Judi Dench, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Nicole Kidman.

So what to make of this, other than, this film is going to be huge come March of next year? Well, I have a few thoughts on this.

DISCLAIMER: I haven't seen the film. There. Now lets go.

First, I think Daniel Day-Lewis is a sure fire lock for Best Actor, for a few reasons. The biggest reason, being that, aside from being you know, Daniel Day-Lewis, the role looks to be really showy, and he does sing. It's like the performance of Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart, just a truly theatrical role, not a more naturalistic and raw performance like I think Bridges delivers. It's a true lead performance, in a film based on a classic film, that for all intents and purposes, is fantastic, being that that's just my hunch having DDL in that role.

So that category, Best Director, and Best Picture I think are three sure fire locks, and I think that they are prettmuch non-issues right now.

Then there are those pesky female categories, that are really often times hard to tell, as not only are there very few good meaty roles for females, even less being true lead turns, so these are often found from the indie realm.

That said, I think this film is chock full of possible Best Lead and Supporting Actress nods, with two truly sticking out to me.

First, Marion Cotillard, who is being pushed as a lead, I think fits perfectly as the 5th actress in the Lead category. Last week I posited the idea that there are 4 actresses that we can book in the category (Sidibe from Precious, Mirren from The Last Station, Mulligan from An Education, and Streep from Julie and Julia), and I think that we can maybe make that 5. From the footage I've seen, she looks amazing, and even, at least in one scene, out acts Lewis, which I have rarely if ever seen. She's a proven Oscar winner, so I think that it's fair to say, if she gives as strong of a performance as she seems to, I think she will round out that list.

Then there is the true reason I wanted to write this. The Best Supporting Actress category is going to be the most interesting to see where the academy goes with regards to this film, as there are 3 true roles where they could go.

In Contention has them going with Penelope Cruz, and I would have to second that notion. That said, the film, if the Weisteins just completely dump The Road's Oscar push, I think that two could fit that bill. So where would the second one come? My personal vote, I wouldn't be shocked if they went with Hudson. From all the footage I've seen, she seems great, as does Kidman, but I think that Kidman has her awards, and the academy may want to go a seperate way. That said, Kidman could easily steal her thunder. This is just a thought, as it would have to have a lot of things happen to get done (namely Susan Sarandon NOT be fantastic in The Lovely Bones which she is rumored to be), but who knows.

This is the academy we are talking about after all.

What do YOU think?

Go see something good!