With nomiations 1 (!!!!) days away, I figure it was time for my predictions.

Best Picture:
The Hurt Locker
Avatar
Up in the Air
The Hurt Locker
Invictus
Avatar
An Education
Inglorious Basterds
District 9
Up

At this point it looks to be a two film, David v Goliath race between Avatar and The Hurt Locker. I have a sneaking feeling that Avatar will win here and THL will get best director but they are both a shoo-in for a nomination, as is Up in the Air, Inglorious Basterds, and Precious. District 9 probably shouldn’t be on this list but it is so good and unsettling its hard to ignore.

Watch out for:

Nine, it a musical with the Weinstein’s backing it…but it wasn’t that good

Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious
James Cameron, Avatar

This category has been thrown into such upheaval since I last posted. I really loved what Lee Daniels did with Precious and his film is going to carry him to anom. Jason Reitman has been making moves (Up in the Air was fantastic), and Rob Marshall can direct a musical like no other. I am convinced Avatar is going to be a major player so James Cameron is the last one for now. But for me the winner is Kathryn Bigelow. She directed a taut, war film that had me anticipating every scene. War is a favorite for the academy and this film was great.
Watch out for:

Clint Eastwood, even though his direction wasn’t that good, he’s still Clint.

Best Actor:
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Jeff Bridges for the win? He’s won almost every major award and is vastly overdue. All the rest should be happy with the nomination
Watch out for:

No one, this category is kinda weak…

Best Actress:
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe , Precious
Hellen Mirren, The Last Station
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

My my what a race we have here. Could Sandra really win an Oscar? She has a full head of steam and the likability factor…but I CANNOT for the life of me see her winning over “the” Meryl Streep or the two indie queens Carey and Gabourey who had better roles.
Watch out for:

Emily Blunt, period piece and she steals every movie she’s in

Best Supporting Actor:
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Cristopher Plummer, The Last Station
Christoph Waltz, Inglorious Basterds
Woody Harelson, The Messengers
Matt Damon, Invictus

Yawn, the same nominees everywhere else…but I am hopeful that McKay and/or Mackie can get a nom here.


Watch out for:
Anthony Mackie, could the momentum of The Hurt Locker carry him to a nom? He was just as fantastic as Jeremy Renner and very affecting.
Christian McKay, celebrity mimicry of THE Orson Welles could net him a nomination

Best Supporting Actress
Mo’Nique, Precious
Julianne Moore, A Single Man

Diane Kruger, Inglorious Basterds
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

The Oscar is Mo’Nique’s to lose. Even though I liked Farmiga, she wasn’t that special in Up in the Air, so she could be in some trouble if the academy realizes that. I have to think that one of the ladies from Inglorious Basterds will make it, so for now Kruger gets my vote.
Watch out for:

Marion Cotillard, she was outstanding in Nine, will they shut that film out completely?

Animated Feature
Up
Caroline
Princess and the Frog
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Fantastic Mr. Fox

Screenplays
Original: The Hurt Locker

Adapted: Up in the Air