Movie fans want Atonement to win Best Picture at 80th Academy Awards (OSCARS)

British drama Atonement looks set to continue its recent success as more than a third (37%) movie fans want it to win Best Picture at the 80th Academy Awards, according to a poll of 4,635 conducted by MSN Movies (movies.uk.msn.com).

And even though it was overlooked for the award at the BAFTAs, more than half of us (51%) agree the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s classic also deserves to walk away with the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

Golden ticket
While she may have lost out on an Academy Award for her 1998 role in Elizabeth, Hollywood darling Cate Blanchett proves that two’s a charm as she tops the list for Best Actress, securing 28% of the votes for her role in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The critically claimed actress marginally beat upcoming starlet, Ellen Page for her role in BAFTA award winning comedy, Juno.

Heartthrob Johnny Depp has had fans in awe for his role in the slice and dice Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, polling 42% of the votes and narrowly beating Daniel Day Lewis as self-made oil tycoon in There Will Be Blood.

Supporting Stars
British ingénue, Saiorse Ronan is hotly tipped by 32% of voters to win Best Supporting Actress for her part as 13 year old fledgling writer in Atonement, while the first Spanish actor ever to be nominated for an Academy Award, Javier Bardem, takes home 30% of the public vote for Best Supporting Actor in No Country For Old Men.

Unplanned Success
Whip smart teen comedy Juno has been a hit at the box office and with MSN Movies fans as almost half (48%) vote it as the Most Original Screenplay making this quirky pregnancy comedy no accident.

It Takes Two
Voters have awarded storytellers, the Coen Brothers with Best Director for No Country for Old Men scoring 37.2% of votes. Having previously won this award for the 1996 film Fargo, this latest project proves the Brothers have not lost their moviemaking brilliance and are worthy of further recognition by the Academy.

MSN Movie Editor Ed Holden says: “As this year’s Oscar nominations were unveiled, we wanted to give movie fans the chance to choose their own favourites rather than leave it to the critics. The MSN Oscars enables movie goers to vote in each of the key categories and have their own say for who they really believe should take home the gold statue. ”

“British hit Atonement has brought romance back to the screen and seen top British actors put in some spectacular performances. It would be great for the British film industry if it were win, so we look forward to the results and seeing if the Academy is eye to eye with our readers.”

The results of the 2008 online poll are below:

Academy Awards 2008
Best Picture – Atonement 37%
Best Adapted Screenplay – Atonement 51%
Best Leading Female – Cate Blanchett

(Elizabeth: The Golden Age) 28%
Best Leading Male – Johnny Depp

(Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street) 42%
Best Supporting Female – Saiorse Ronan

(Atonement) 32%
Best Supporting Male – Javier Bardem

(No Country For Old Men) 30%
Best Original Screenplay – Juno 48%
Best Director – Joel & Ethan Coen

(No Country For Old Men) 37%

Source: Press Release from movies.uk.msn.com