Clint Eastwood's $30m Million Dollar Baby began eclipsing Scorsese's $110m The Aviator late in the competition for Oscar statuettes?

Oscar: "Million Dollar Baby" eclipses The Aviator?

It seems like Clint Eastwood's $30m Million Dollar Baby began eclipsing Scorsese's $110m The Aviator late in the competition for Oscar statuettes.However, the boxing saga Million Dollar Baby with brilliant Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman, nominated for best actress, best actor and best supporting actor, faces a tough fight against the glamorous epic "Aviator", which obtained as many as 11 Oscar nominations.

The Aviator and Million Dollar Baby are disputing for best picture and best director in the 77th annual Academy Awards.

"'The Aviator' is a serious contender, but 'Million Dollar Baby' is going to take the best picture and best director crowns," said awards pundit Tom O'Neil, saying that both Hollywood heavyweight movies could win around five Oscars each but that "Baby" would grab the show.

Million Dollar Baby got 7 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director, best actor for Eastwood (Frankie Dunne), best actress for Swank and best supporting actor for Morgan Freeman.

"'Baby' is getting such strong buzz among Oscar voters," O'Neil told AFP. "Clint Eastwood is a tough guy and in this movie not only does he cry, but makes the whole audience cry with him."

Eastwood is more likely to win the award as he is beloved in Hollywood, especially among his fellow actors, who make up the Academy's largest voting bloc and do not seem very enthusiastic about Scorsese, perceived in Hollywood as a New York man.

Another advantage for Clint Eastwood is his age of 74, which can become a decisive point for aged voters of the Academy. If awarded, Eastwood will be the oldest person ever to win an Oscar for film directors.

However, Scorsese's monumental "Aviator" scooped more nominations than any other film this year, an advantage that has ensured the leading film a best picture victory in 18 of the last 20 years.

Heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio is nominated as best actor for playing the eccentric Hughes, while Cate Blanchett is vying for best supporting actress for her role as movie legend Katharine Hepburn and Alan Alda is up for best supporting actor for his role as a conniving senator in the film.

According to the range of Oscar betting options at oddschecker.com, the favorite for Best Picture is "The Aviator." Gamebookers.com has its odds set at 1-to-4.

Bet365.com To Win Outright  betting oddsAcademy Awards 2005 - Best Film Book Closes Feb 27-16:00

The Aviator 1.44 Million Dollar Baby 2.87 Sideways 10.00  Ray 26.00 Finding Neverland 76.00

Final Oscar betting odds at GoldDerby.com

The Aviator 1/2Million Dollar Baby 6/5 Sideways 11/2Ray 20/1Finding Neverland 25/1

OSCAR-BEST PICTURE Odds at BetWWts.com

Book closes 27-Feb---08:00 pm BEST MOTION PICTURE 

THE AVIATOR -200 MILLION DOLLAR BABY +140 SIDEWAYS +800 RAY +2000 FINDING NEVERLAND +3000

The Oscars will be handed out by an all-star cast at a glittering ceremony at Hollywood's Kodak. The ceremony will be hosted by comedian Chris Rock. Theatre starting at 5:00 pm on Sunday February 27 (01:00 am GMT Monday).

Bookies bet on ‘Aviator’ and ‘Baby’ in tight Oscar raceCold Oscar season is a hot time for bookmakers, both online and offline. ... British bookmakers have The Aviator as Oscar favourite, with odds of 4/9 and 8/13. ...

The Aviator leads Oscar nominations: review and betting... nominations. The four other films in the Oscar Best Picture category contained Sideways, Million Dollar Baby, Finding Neverland and Ray. ...

‘Aviator’, ‘Baby’, ‘Neverland’ and other Oscar ...In the early morning of January 25, at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, the US Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced their 2004 Oscar nominations. ...

Top Casino Sites from our Online Gambling Directory