OSCARS 2009: The Latest OddsRSS

OSCARS 2009: The Latest Odds

23rd Feb 2009
By Paul Scantlebury, Flicks.co.nz

The 81st Academy Awards are on today in Hollywood. We've got live updates on site today from 2pm, see the nominations here.

Gambling agencies looking to broaden their appeal are taking bets on the winners. If you're the gambling type (or if you've got a sweepstake going, you'd be best to rely on the bookies for your picks) there's a bevy of US, UK and Australian sites to take a punt, such as Betfair.com.au. TAB in NZ doesn't do it.

Here's the lowdown...

Best Film
Heavy favourite for all betting agencies is Slumdog Millionaire paying from $1.05 - $1.17. Benjamin Button is the only nomination worth a punt, paying around $5 - $10. Any other bet would be foolish. Rank outsider Frost/Nixon is paying $100.

Best Actor
Mickey Rourke is paying about $1.50. Sean Penn is the best bet, paying as much as $3.20. Frank Langella has the next longest odds at $22.

Best Actress
Kate Winslet is the favourite, paying $1.17 to $1.42. Meryl Streep is paying around $4-$5, but risk-takers may take a shy at Anne Hathaway who's paying as much as $14.50.

Best Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger is a no-brainer at just over a dollar. Most agencies have any of the other nominations at $55 +

Best Supporting Actress
A much closer race... Penelope Cruz is the favourite at $1.70-ish. Amy Adams ($5.80) and Viola Davis ($6.80) also have a decent shot.

Best Director
Reflecting the Best Film odds, Slumdog director Danny Boyle is the hot favourite paying around $1.16. David Fincer (Benjamin Button) is paying $10, everyone else $60 +

Best Animated Film
No contest - WALL-E returns $1.07.

Here are the favourites for the remaining categories...

Best Documentary - Man on Wire ($1.34)
Best Foreign Language Film - Waltz with Bashir ($1.53)
Adapted Screenplay - Slumdog Millionaire ($1.46)
Original Screenplay - Milk ($3.40)
Cinematography - Slumdog Millionaire ($1.50)
Film Editing - Slumdog Millionaire ($1.47)
Art Direction - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($1.47)
Costume Design - The Duchess ($1.42)
Make-Up - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($1.24)
Original Score - Slumdog Millionaire ($1.47)
Original Song - 'Jai Ho' from Slumdog Millionaire ($2.46)
Sound Editing - WALL-E ($2.90)
Sound Mixing - The Dark Knight ($1.82)
Visual Effects - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ($1.39)