Oscar 2010 Predictions

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”--The Hype around him is amazing!
George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”

Actor in a Supporting Role
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”--All Critics Awards, Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG. He's loved!

Actress in a Leading Role
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”

Sandra Bullock seems like the shoe-in on this one (won Golden Globe and SAG. The Academy likes to surprise, and therefore it could be time (25 years later!) for Meryl to once again be victorious!

Actress in a Supporting Role
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”

If Mo' Nique doesn't get it, I don't know what the world has come to!

Animated Feature Film
“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

Up is only the second animated film to be nominated for Best Picture (behind Beauty and the Beast). While it won't win that category, it's consolation is a trophy in this one.

Directing
“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

I said Bigelow for the Golden Globe. Cameron spoiled it with Avatar. I sincerely hope she pulls away with the Oscar this time, but if it will be anyone, it's Cameron to ruin it.

Best Picture
1. “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow, Mark Boal, Nicolas Chartier and Greg Shapiro, Producers
2. “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
3.“Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers

With this massive category of 10 films, it may very well be that votes are split and that some of the smaller films in the category (The Blind Side, Up, etc) could take votes away from where it's deserved. So, here are the top three films in the Category. Personally, it should be The Hurt Locker, but there is still so much Avatar buzz floating around that it could spoil it. If the two of these films split the votes, however, expect Up in the Air to surprise them all!

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
“District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
“An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
“In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
“Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Up in the Air won't win the directing Oscar (nor the Best Picture), but it really is deserving of some Oscar Gold. The Screenplays are always the hardest to predict, so these two categories could be the surprise ones.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
“The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
“Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
“The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
“A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
“Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

Again, Hurt Locker should win. Luckily, the whole "scandal" with the film occurred AFTER the votes had been cast. We'll see what the Academy says.