It may have surprised more than a few people when Variety decided to go all out and introduce an Oscar blog to the Award Central section of the site (hi, nice to see ya, how are ya).  Well, believe it or not, staffer Justin Chang has beaten everyone to the punch -- even those ever-forecasting amateur Oscar watchers -- with a look ahead at what we might expect at next year's Oscar ceremony.

Well, almost everyone.

But seriously, this is the first full-blown article on the 2008-2009 Oscar season that I've come across.  It's a thorough piece, well-researched but perhaps a little too dependent on the obvious stuff.  There's little room made for potential surprise contenders, but let's face it, you can't see what's coming any more than you can stop it (hehe).  Chang nonetheless offers that "Experience warns us not to count too heavily on the so-called 'sure things,' as left-field surprises always have a way of sneaking in, but a handful of projects sure sound promising."

From your mouth to God's ears.  Here's a look at more:

Considering Scott Rudin produced "No Country" and exec produced "There Will Be Blood," this year's top nomination-getters, his upcoming slate is a good place to start. Assuming voters don't get it confused with last year's "Reservation Road," Paramount's "Revolutionary Road" would seem to have a clear path into awards season. Directed by Oscar winner Sam Mendes ("American Beauty"), pic reunites much-nominated, never-victorious "Titanic" stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet in a 1950s marital drama adapted from the Richard Yates novel...

Two thesps who drew early kudos buzz this season seem like possible contenders for next year's actor race: Benicio Del Toro as Che Guevara in "The Argentine," the first in Steven Soderbergh's two-part study of the Cuban revolutionary; and Frank Langella, reprising his Tony-winning performance as President Nixon in Ron Howard's screen adaptation of "Frost/Nixon."

And later:

"Mystic River" winner Sean Penn could end up back on the ballot for "Milk," about gay-rights activist Harvey Milk, who was assassinated by a fellow San Francisco politician (played by Josh Brolin) at the height of his popularity. The Gus Van Sant-helmed project beat out a rival biopic from director Bryan Singer.

But Singer won't be empty-handed this fall. His "Valkyrie," which stars Tom Cruise in a historical thriller about a plot within the German army to assassinate Hitler, marks a reunion between Singer and "Usual Suspects" scribe Christopher McQuarrie.

And finally, what we've all been thinking:

The death of Heath Ledger has also amped up curiosity over his turn as the Joker in Warners' "The Dark Knight," stirring speculation about a posthumous supporting nom.

But there are a ton of titles mentioned.  Solid work throughout.  Give it a look.