And the Academy Award nominations go to . . .

By Saurabh Muzumdar

After a year of discussions on gay rights and politics, among other topics, it seems only fitting to honor those in a medium that helped provoke those discussions: cinema.

This year's Academy Award lineup suggests a great night at the Oscars on Feb. 22. Here are the nominations in the main categories:

Best Actor in a Leading Role: Sean Penn, "Milk;" Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon;" Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler;" Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

This contest is probably between Penn and Rourke. Penn's role as a gay politician and Rourke's as a washed-up wrestler fit the bill of typical Oscar roles, requiring the actor to go above and beyond.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Josh Brolin, "Milk;" Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder;" Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt;" Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight;" Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

With all due respect, Ledger not winning this one would be blasphemy.

Best Actress in a Leading Role: Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married;" Kate Winslet, "The Reader;" Angelina Jolie, "Changeling;" Meryl Streep, "Doubt;" Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Streep has been here before and wears the favorite tag, but Winslet, who seems to be nominated every year and has yet to win an Oscar, is bound to get lucky at some point.

Hathaway is the real dark horse in this race.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona;" Amy Adams, "Doubt;" Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler;" Taraji Henson, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Cruz playing the mentally unstable artist in Woody Allen's "Vicky Cristina" garnered enough curiosity to get her nominated, and she has a good chance of taking the award.

Tomei was charming, but the women from "Doubt" might have the last laugh in this race.

Best Director: David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" Gus Van Sant, "Milk;" Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire;" Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon;" Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"

Christopher Nolan not getting a nomination for "The Dark Knight" was a huge disappointment, indicating that the film -- which broke box office records and received critical acclaim -- just wasn't Oscar material. That said, Boyle's "Slumdog Millionaire" has been the darling of all the pre-Oscar awards, and it wouldn't be terribly surprising to see him win this one.

Best Picture: "The Reader;" "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button;" "Slumdog Millionaire;" "Milk;" "Frost/Nixon"

This could be the best chance for "Frost/Nixon" to win an Oscar, but its riveting plot faces some stiff competition from "Milk" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

"Benjamin Button" could also receive some votes because of its quirky take on mortality, a very popular topic with the academy.

M.I.A. will perform at the Oscars, hopefully adding some excitement to what has sometimes been a dull celebration. Hugh Jackman has been pinned to host the show.

The academy probably just needed an excuse to invite him.

Contact Saurabh Muzumdar at smuzumdar@scu.edu.