Oscar candidates lagging this year

First half of 2008 comes up short on potential As of Monday, the year was at the halfway mark, so in theory, the 2008 awards race is half over. Not a chance. The past six months have offered fewer potential contenders than any January-June period in memory. At least on paper, this year looks like a return to the old days, when the majors dominated awards and most of the nominees bowed late in the year -- in contrast with recent history, when the Oscar charge was led by specialty divisions and fall launches. In the last six months, there have been possible nominees in the below-the-line Oscar races ("Iron Man," "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," "Forbidden Kingdom," "The Incredible Hulk," "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian," "Wanted," "Hancock," etc.), and there have been strong toons ("Horton Hears a... [read full story]