Oscars: All 10 nominees match up with a past champ

Image 1 of 11

<i>By Lisa Rosen, Special to the Los Angeles Times</i><br>
<br>
Award season lends itself to prognostication from all corners, from venerable film critics to Vegas oddsmakers and all the dry cleaners, masseurs and baristas in between. But we here at The Envelope like to look backward before making our best picture predictions. By examining what has triumped in the past, we can see how — or if — the current crop of freshly minted nominees aligns in story, theme or form to a tried and true Oscar winner. And as it happens, all 10 match up with a champ, if you'll allow a stretch or two in the comparisons, because as original as this year's top films are, they still embody universal elements that have been with us since storytelling began.

( From top: Russell Crowe, credit: Universal; Clint Eastwood, credit: Warner Bros; Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger, credit: File photo. )

By Lisa Rosen, Special to the Los Angeles Times

Award season lends itself to prognostication from all corners, from venerable film critics to Vegas oddsmakers and all the dry cleaners, masseurs and baristas in between. But we here at The Envelope like to look backward before making our best picture predictions. By examining what has triumped in the past, we can see how — or if — the current crop of freshly minted nominees aligns in story, theme or form to a tried and true Oscar winner. And as it happens, all 10 match up with a champ, if you'll allow a stretch or two in the comparisons, because as original as this year's top films are, they still embody universal elements that have been with us since storytelling began.