Brokeback
Mountain Critics' and Odds Makers' Choice for
Oscars
Although not everyone is ready
to see a gay romance dominate the Oscars, Brokeback
Mountain is an obvious favorite with both critics
and odds makers. Aces.com favors the controversial
picture to win at 1-10 odds (odds at Aces.com
as of March 2, 2006).
Although
Aces.com is a little bit of Las Vegas online,
they're offering better payouts than Vegas hotels
on Brokeback Mountain. The Las Vegas Sun reports
that the Wynn Las Vegas, for example, put the
movie's odds at 3-5.
"I
know some books have shortened the odds on Brokeback
Mountain this week," said Aces.com Manager
Rene Quesada. "We've still got it at 1-10
though – a pretty good payout if you think
Hollywood is ready to honor a gay cowboy movie.
If not, you could go with Crash – but
a three dollar bet only wins two."
Brokeback
Mountain has already won the Directors Guild
Award the Producers Guild Award and the Golden
Globe. Since 1989, when the PGA came into existence,
nine pictures have won all of these awards and
eight of the nine have gone on to win the Academy
Award for best picture.
Odds
makers seem to doubt Best Supporting Actor will
go to a gay cowboy. Jake Gyllenhaal is only
given 7-2 odds for his role in Brokeback Mountain
while George Clooney is at 2-3 for Syriana,
as is Paul Giamatti for Cinderella Man.
Although
some critics argue that she really played a
Supporting Actress roll in Walk the Line, Reese
Witherspoon is an obvious winner in the Best
Supporting Actress.
"Reese
Witherspoon for Best Actress – that's
a no-brainer," said Quesada. "At odds
of 1-6, we're seeing a lot of Aces.com players
putting money on her."
Complete
odds for this weekend's Academy Awards are updated
daily at Ace.com where other entertainment props
on American Idol, The Amazing Race and Survivor
Panama are also posted.
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