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This is the first time in years that I’ve seen so many of the Oscar nominees. I really wanted to watch all of the Best Picture nominees, but unfortunately I was not able to make it out to see The Blind Side. I was going to watch it last night, but the only showing I could make it to was at 7:10 and it wouldn’t have given me any time to eat dinner. I didn’t want to spend money to see both a movie and eat (it’s expensive here in the city!) so I decided to just forego that movie. I also only saw the first half of Precious, but while I haven’t included it as a movie on my 101 list, I have a good enough idea about the movie to weight it in my decision.

To see the list of nominees, click here. Below are my picks for the Oscars and who I think will actually win (which are obviously two totally different things because clearly no one listens to me):

Best Picture
Will Win: Avatar
My Pick: The Hurt Locker

It makes me cry to think that Avatar will win, but the Oscars are a popularity contest, so I think, based on that, Avatar will win. My pick is The Hurt Locker. For me, it is the all-encompassing movie. Excellent acting, heart-pounding plot, great cinematography, and pitch-perfect dialogue. It gave me a perspective into a world that I am completely unfamiliar with, and I really like movies that do that. Like I said, I have seen all the Best Picture nominees, except for the Blind Side, and I really don’t think anything tops that movie.

Best Director
Will Win: James Cameron
My Pick: Kathryn Bigelow

According to my sources, the winner of the Directors Guild of America award is often the indicator for the Oscar. However. I am utterly convinced James Cameron will ruin the evening and steal the award from his ex-wife. I don’t know why, I just have a gut feeling that this is how it will work. He won the Golden Globe. Everything has gone needlessly gaga over Avatar, and I just feel like it will happen. I thought The Hurt Locker was amazing, and the fact it was made by a woman makes it even better, I think. I would be thrilled if any of the directors won though, because I enjoyed all the movies (save for Avatar) who have nominated directors. I also think Lee Daniels, of Precious, should win (if I could vote for two) because it was such challenging story and I thought it was well-done.

Best Actor:
Will Win: Jeff Bridges
My Pick: Jeremy Renner

Jeff Bridges won Best Actor at the Golden Globes, which are typically good indicators of who will win the Oscar. However, while I thought Jeff Bridges was good, I didn’t think he was that great and I didn’t think it was a character that required a lot of a person to play (though his singing, which apparently was real, was very good). I thought Jeremy Renner’s role in the Hurt Locker really stretched an actor and that he really encompassed the character well. It was both emotional and thorough.

Best Actress
Will Win: Sandra Bullock
My Pick: Sandra Bullock

Although I haven’t seen the Blind Side, everything that people have told me says that Sandra both will win and should win for her role. I have seen clips, and it really looks like Sandra gave it her all and for someone who has had her track record of roles, that’s very impressive.

Best Supporting Actor
Will Win: Christoph Waltz
My Pick: Christoph Waltz

Inglorious Basterds was actually the only movie I saw out of the nominees, but I thought Christoph did an amazing job. He was the kind of guy you loved to hate and hated to love, because he was hilarious and vicious all at the same time.

Best Supporting Actress
Will Win: Mo’Nique
My Pick: Mo’Nique

The only movie I didn’t see of the nominees was Nine, with nominee Penelope Cruz, but while I thought Vera Framaglia and Anna Kendrick were good in Up in the Air, and Maggie Gyllenhaal was cute in Crazy Heart, Mo’Nique was really the shining star and I really hope she pulls through with another award and brings home an Oscar. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the other actors in Precious, to be honest, but I thought Mo’Nique stole the show.

Best Animated Film
Will Win: Up
My Pick: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Now, before you hate me, I did love Up. I really did like the story and it was very emotional, and yes, I cried. However, I thought Fantastic Mr. Fox was a better overall package. The style of animation was innovative and the dialogue was hilarious, and while the overall message in Up was a lot more poignant, I just thought Fantastic Mr. Fox deserves the award for animation because the actual animation technique was new – or at the very least unusual – instead of the typical Pixar computer animation style. But Up will probably win this category only because it doesn’t stand a chance to win for Best Film. I would be happy if Up won Best Animated Film though. And it probably will.

Best Original Screenplay
Will Win: Inglorious Bastereds/Up/maybe The Hurt Locker
My Pick: Up

This is a tough category for me to predict. I think all of them have a pretty good shot at winning, actually. I think either Up or Inglorious Basterds will win, honestly. But I have a tough time figuring out which one I think it will be. My personal preference would be for Up this time, because the way that it was written captures so much emotion and yearning without even using any words. It’s very impressive when you can have a movie use so little dialogue but in just the right places so that it really packs a punch.

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Will Win: Up in the Air
My Pick: An Education

I loved both of these movies, so again, it’s a tough call. Would be happy with any of them, actually (I even enjoyed District 9). I happen to have a soft spot for Nick Hornby, so I would be thrilled if he got an Oscar. But Up in the Air won at the Golden Globes so I think it’s the favorite to win. It was good, very good actually. George Clooney had some great lines in it and I think the way that it was written out as a story was very good, even if I absolutely hated the ending and am still traumatized by it. But I think the fact I’m traumatized means that it was good. So. There you go.

Other categories: If Up does not win Best Original Score, I will CRY. The music made that movie what it is! I suppose I will vote for The Weary Kind in Crazy Heart for Best Original Song, but that’s the only movie in that category I saw. I think Best Costume Design should go to The Young Victoria, and Best Make-up should go to Star Trek. I don’t really know enough about Visual Effects and Sound Editing to really comment.


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