What movies are looking to be Oscar favorites in 2008?

Among 2008's expected highlights are (clockwise from above) Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunited in "Revolutionary Road," Tom Cruise as a Nazi in "Valkyrie," Meryl Streep as a singing mom in "Mamma Mia!"

and matronly nun in "Doubt," and Angelina Jolie in "The Changeling."

Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet are reunited for the first time since "Titanic." Brad Pitt is a man who ages backward. Benicio Del Toro portrays Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara in one or possibly two films.

These stars and their newest flicks are already some of the heavy favorites for next year's Oscars - even before the red carpet at the Kodak Theatre has been rolled up.

Predicting Oscars so far in advance is a tricky pursuit. A year ago, "Juno" was an obscure teen comedy listed as a 2008 release. "The Golden Compass" looked like the next "The Lord of the Rings" on paper, but eventually bombed with critics and moviegoers.

The star of "Compass," past Best Actress winner Nicole Kidman, will give it another try by reuniting with her "Moulin Rouge" director, Baz Luhrmann, for "Australia," an epic World War II romance co-starring Hugh Jackman.

That's assuming "Australia," scheduled for release in December, actually arrives in theaters before year's end.

A year ago, the list of hopefuls included the film with Del Toro, then called "Che" and now known as "Guerrilla" and set in 1964 New York City.

It still doesn't have an official release date, nor does "The Argentine," a companion piece set in 1956 Cuba - also starring Del Toro as Guevara. Both have wrapped production under the direction of previous winner Steven Soderbergh, which makes them automatic Oscar bait.

More certain is the December release of "Revolutionary Road," a marital drama set in 1950s Connecticut starring DiCaprio and five-time nominee Winslet.

It is directed by Winslet's hubby, Sam Mendes, who won an Oscar for his last examination of suburban angst, "American Beauty."

Another Oscar favorite, Cate Blanchett, is cast opposite Pitt, the man who regresses to childhood in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," from his "Fight Club" director, David Fincher. This one has major literary cachet, being adapted from an obscure short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
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