My Predictions for the 2010 Oscars

The Oscar nominations have been announced a week ago and it's taken me this long to figure out what my own predictions are. And so here we go!

Best Picture

Nominees:

Avatar (will win)

The Blind Side (could be a surprise win)

District 9 (shouldn't be here)

An Education (should win)

The Hurt Locker (it's possible)

Inglourious Basterds (should win)

Precious (shouldn't be here)

A Serious Man (doesn't stand a chance)

Up (doesn't stand a chance)

Up in the Air (it's possible) 

With all of its technical achievements, Avatar deserves the win because it truly is the "best picture". 

Could've also been nominated: A Single Man, (500) Days of Summer, The Hangover

Best Director

Nominees:

Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker (will win)

James Cameron for Avatar (it's possible)

Lee Daniels for Precious (shouldn't be here)

Jason Reitman for Up in the Air (doesn't stand a chance)

Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds (should win)

Bigelow won the Director's Guild of America award so it's hers to lose. But Cameron changed filmmaking forever so he also has a chance. Reitman, post-Avatar, lost a lot of steam while Tarantino's just lucky to be here

Could've also been nominated: Lone Scherfig for An Education, Tom Ford for A Single Man, Neill Blomkamp for District 9

Best Actor

Nominees:

Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (will win)

George Clooney for Up in the Air (doesn't stand a chance)

Colin Firth for A Single Man (should win)

Morgan Freeman for Invictus (doesn't stand a chance)

Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker (it's possible)

Bridges's surprising GG win placed him as the front-runner for this award but Renner could steal it from him. Clooney and his film are just lucky to nominated and same with Freeman. 

Could've also been nominated: Ben Foster for The Messenger, Robert Downey Jr. for Sherlock Holmes, Matt Damon for The Informant!

Best Actress

Nominees:

Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (will win)

Helen Mirren for The Last Station (it's possible)

Carey Mulligan for An Education (should win)

Gabourey Sidibie for Precious (shouldn't be here)

Meryl Streep for Julie & Julia (will win)

Since this is basically a race between two women who are overdue for an Oscar, this is the only category with some dramatic tension. I'd love for Mulligan or Mirren to win but it seems unlikely. And you all know I'm anti-Precious. 

Could've also been nominated: Marion Cotillard for Nine, Melanie Laurent for Inglourious Basterds, Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria

Keep on the lookout for part 2!