“Benjamin Button,“ Heath Ledger voted Oscar favorites in web poll

A new study conducted among 302 viewers of a video clip discussing the recently announced 2009 Academy Award nominations, revealed that the majority believe ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ should win in the Best Picture category. 

The study was conducted by HCD Research on January 22 to obtain viewers’ perceptions of the recently announced 2009 Academy Award nominations.  The study results will be compared to actual winners when they are announced at the Academy Awards in February. To view agreement curves and detailed results visit: http://www.mediacurves.com.

Ron Howard was favored in the Best Director category for ‘Frost/Nixon.’ Respondents also chose Brad Pitt in the Best Actor category for his leading role in ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’, while Kate Winslet was selected in the Best Actress category for her leading role in ‘The Reader.’ The majority of respondents (62%) reported that ‘The Dark Knight,’ was snubbed for not receiving a nomination in the Best Picture Category.

Among the findings:

The following is a list of all the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards. Please indicate which nominee you would choose as the winner for each the following categories.

Category: Best Picture

Total
(n=302)
‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
41%
‘Frost/Nixon’
13%
‘Milk’
6%
‘The Reader’
9%
‘Slumdog Millionaire’
31%

Category: Best Director

Total
(n=302)
Danny Boyle, ‘Slumdog Millionaire’
25%
Stephen Daldry, ‘The Reader’
7%
David Fincher, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
30%
Ron Howard, ‘Frost/Nixon’
32%
Gus Van Sant, ‘Milk’
5%

Category: Best Actor

Total
(n=302)
Richard Jenkins, ‘The Visitor’
5%
Frank Langella, ‘Frost/Nixon’
13%
Sean Penn, ‘Milk’
22%
Brad Pitt, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
43%
Mickey Rourke, ‘The Wrestler’
18%

Category: Best Actress

Total
(n=302)
Anne Hathaway, ‘Rachel Getting Married’
15%
Angelina Jolie, ‘Changeling’
24%
Melissa Leo, ‘Frozen River’
3%
Meryl Streep, ‘Doubt’
19%
Kate Winslet, ‘The Reader’
39%

Category: Best Supporting Actor

Total
(n=302)
Josh Brolin, ‘Milk’
6%
Robert Downey Jr., ‘Tropic Thunder’
13%
Philip Seymour Hoffman, ‘Doubt’
5%
Heath Ledger, ‘The Dark Knight’
74%
Michael Shannon, ‘Revolutionary Road’
4%

Category: Best Supporting Actress

Total
(n=302)
Amy Adams, ‘Doubt’
13%
Penelope Cruz, ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
22%
Viola Davis, ‘Doubt’
10%
Taraji P. Henson, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
28%
Marisa Tomei, ‘The Wrestler’
28%