OK, I’ve pontificated and prognosticated enough over the last few months to the point of ad nauseum, but I think my picks for the Academy Award nominations are fairly accurate. I have to say, this is probably the easiest time predicting the noms I’ve ever had, even WITH the 10 Best Picture nods. For some reason, it’s all very clear – and I’m sure I’m not the only Oscar watcher who feels that way. So, without further ado, here’s what I predict:
Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”
George Clooney, “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”
Jeremy Renner, “The Hurt Locker”
The why: The top four are a lock, leaving that fifth spot slightly open. I say slightly, because with the run The Hurt Locker has been having, it’d be a crime not to nominate Renner.
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”
Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious”
Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”
The why: I can’t think of any surprises in this category. None whatsoever.
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, “Invictus”
Woody Harrelson, “The Messenger”
Christopher Plummer, “The Last Station”
Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely Bones”
Christoph Waltz, “Inglourious Basterds”
The why: Again, a nearly rock solid list. Although, one of the bloggers on Cinematical.com picked Christian McKay, the Orson Welles in Me and Orson Welles, as the fifth slot holder. Hmmm, haven’t heard much on this guy, but the BFCA, Chicago Film Critics and BAFTAs all nominated him. Not the SAGs or Golden Globes, though, so I’m confident with my Christopher Plummer choice.
Best Supporting Actress
Vera Farmiga, “Up in the Air”
Anna Kendrick, “Up in the Air”
Diane Kruger, “Inglourious Basterds”
Mo’nique, “Precious”
Julianne Moore, “A Single Man”
The why: Now that Nine and Penelope Cruz are most likely out of the race, that gives SAG nominee Diane Kruger the upper hand. I’ll laugh, though, if Cruz sneaks in anyway. The supporting categories usually throw in a surprise on me.
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, “The Hurt Locker”
James Cameron, “Avatar”
Clint Eastwood, “Invictus”
Jason Ritter, “Up in the Air”
Quentin Tarantino, “Inglourious Basterds”
The why: They are nominating 10 Best Pics, but of course we still have to narrow down the directors to just five. Bigelow, Cameron, Taratino and Ritter are all in like flint, leaving, again, the fifth slot. Pete Docter could easily make the cut for Up, as could Lee Daniels for Precious and Lone Scherfig for An Education. But my feeling is they’ll go with Eastwood because, well, he’s Clint Eastwood: Academy Awards darling.
Best Original Screenplay
Mark Boal, “The Hurt Locker”
Joel and Ethan Coen, “A Serious Man”
Pete Docter and Bob Peterson, “Up”
Scott Neustatder and Michael H. Weber, “(500) Days of Summer”
Quentin Tarantino “Inglourious Basterds”
The why: There weren’t as many quality original screenplays as they were adapted this year. In fact, the only other screenplay that might take a spot would be Nancy Meyers’ It’s Complicated. I’m thinking (500) Days of Summer has the edge.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Wes Anderson and Noah Baumbach, “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Geoffrey Fletcher, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Tom Ford, “A Single Man”
Nick Hornby, “An Education”
Jason Ritter and Sheldon Turner, “Up in the Air”
The why: Like I said, there are more great scripts to choose from in this category. Precious, An Education and Up in the Air are shoo-ins, but the other two spots are up for grabs. I also considered Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell’s District 9, Nora Ephron’s Julie & Julia and heck, even Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s Star Trek (it could happen, you never know). I finally settled on Fantastic Mr. Fox, because it really is very clever, and A Single Man, for its poignancy.
Best Animated Feature
“Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs”
“Coraline”
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
“The Princess and the Frog”
“Up”
The why: I’ve said it before, it was a banner year for animated films, but these five were definitely the best.
Best Picture
“An Education”
“Avatar”
“District 9”
“The Hangover”
“The Hurt Locker”
“Inglourious Basterds”
“Invictus”
“Precious”
“Up”
“Up in the Air”
The why: And last, but not least, the all-important and expanded Best Picture list. According to The Envelope blogger Pete Hammond, choosing 10 nominees has been a daunting task for the Academy voters, but I agree with AwardsPicks’ Phil Wallace – how hard can it be? I’ve vacillated a bit with my list, but I’ve now included what might be a surprise entry The Hangover, because it won the Golden Globe – and District 9, which I’ve always supported. Others that might sneak in: The Messenger, A Serious Man, A Single Man, The Last Station, It’s Complicated or yes, perhaps even Star Trek. Let’s see how many I get right.