Here are my predictions for the 2010 Oscars®:
Best Picture:
“The Hurt Locker” - This could so easily go to 'Avatar', but I sure hope not. A technologically advanced film, light years ahead of anything else, but it's just a cross between 'Dances With Wolves' and 'Braveheart', set in the future, on another planet, with blue people... For the technology alone it doesn't deserve the big award, but may pick up technological awards and will be fully deserving of them. Actually, I just saw some footage and it's the first time I've seen anything from Avatar that's NOT in 3D, and it's really not that good. You have to watch it in 3D otherwise it's just not very good, and so for that reason, I'm out. I would personally vote for 'The Blind Side', but as I have neither won nor been nominated for an Oscar®, I am not a member of the academy and so don't get a vote, sadly.
Also nominated & winner:
“Avatar”
“The Blind Side”
“District 9”
“An Education”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
“A Serious Man”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”
Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow for “The Hurt Locker” - Again, this award is really just between Kathryn and her ex-husband, James Cameron for 'Avatar', but as with above, I don't think he deserves it as much as Kathryn.
Also nominated & winner:
“Avatar” James Cameron
“The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
“Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
“Up in the Air” Jason Reitman
Best Actor:
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” - This is a really open category, with 3 of the 5 in with a decent shout. George Clooney in 'Up In The Air' put in a sterling performance. Bridges might get it down to the "old boy never won" attitude that the academy sometimes has and shows in their tendencies to vote for these people, but likewise, Downey Jr has gone through some tough personal times to come back in recent years and have some great performances ('The Soloist' and 'Tropic Thunder' were both fabulous roles, but he's not even nominated, so phail phool... (I edited this after I posted it and changed to Bridges, but still it was at least 20 minutes before the Oscars started, and nearly 5 hours before he actually won it... So it's all legal :) ).
Also nominated & winner:
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”
Best Actress:
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” - As soon as i saw it I thought she had it locked tight. I like her, have liked her since seeing her in 'Speed', and really hope she gets this. Also, credit to her for going to last nights 'Razzies' and accepting the 'Worst Actress' award for 'All About Steve'. That takes guts. She is, however, up against the amazing Meryl Streep in 'Julie & Julia'. Streep just seems to have to go to see a movie to get nominated, but she was awesome in that film, so I for one wouldn't begrudge her winning yet another golden boy (she'll be pleased to hear that I'm sure...).
Also nominated & winner:
Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”
Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” - Nobody else need turn up. If he doesn't win then it's all a complete farce... Actually, the other 4 should turn up, they get free tickets and a goodie bag after all, but just go to enjoy the evening, don't expect to win anything.
Also nominated & Winner:
Matt Damon in “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Best Supporting Actress:
Mo'Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” - Like above, nobody else need apply. A flawlessly acted role in what was a really difficult film.
Also nominated & winner:
Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Best Adapted Screenplay:
“Up in the Air”
Also nominated & winner:
“District 9” by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Best Original Screenplay:
“The Hurt Locker”
Also nominated & Winner:
“The Hurt Locker” by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Best Animated Feature:
“Up” - If there's anybody on this planet who doesn't think this is going to win it, they need to be locked up.
Also nominated & Winner:
“Coraline” Henry Selick
“Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
“The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
“The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
“Up” Pete Docter
