Oscar Nominations

So the 2010 Oscar nominations have been announced. Not too many surprises, to be honest. But let's take a look anyway.

So this year the best picture category has extended to ten films. Ostensibly to share the wealth, as it were, and bring more of the attention that an Oscar nomination brings to a wider variety of films. Actually, though, this is a money-making exercise. Hollywood has been hit by the recession too so needs to keep making as much money as possible. A nomination for best picture always makes a film's box office gross leap higher, so it makes sense to allow more films to reap the financial rewards. Also, the Oscar telecast has had steadily declining viewing figures for years. Some have accused the Academy of only nominated small, obscure films (yeah, right. If only), so people are therefore uninterested in the nominated films and don't watch the show. A bloated ten picture race is sure to bring in more crowds. Supposedly. When the viewing figures are revealed after Oscar night, we will see whether this ploy worked.

I feel the winner here will be Avatar. The Academy loves a blockbuster and this film has been dominating awards season. Although saying that, the consolation for The Hurt Locker will almost certainly be a best director win for Kathryn Bigelow. But this could go either way. Both best picture and best director will be a clear fight between former spouses Bigelow and James Cameron, so we could have vote-split upset where something clearly less deserving like Inglourious Basterds wins the statuette. So much for a ten-film race enhancing the Academy's credibility.

So, Up scored a nomination for best picture. The last animated feature to do this was, I think, Beauty and the Beast back in 1991. Goody! The big surprise here was The Blind Side scoring a nomination in this category. Now, urm, am I the only one that seems to remember that this film had only mediocre reviews on release and didn't exactly set the box office alight? But recently Hollywood has showed a lot of love towards this film and it's star, Sandra Bullock.

Which brings us neatly on to the best actress category. It was looking a bit touch and go as to whether Carey Mulligan would receive a nomination for her work in An Education, but there she is, right up with Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren and Gabby Sidibe. Now, the most deserving winner here is probably Sidibe. She has been nominated for her role in Precious on many previous occasions but unfortunately has never won. I don't think this is about to change. Mirren and Mulligan have received congratulatory nominations, so the real battle here is between Streep and Bullock. And, unlikely as this sounds, I think Sandra Bullock is about to win her first Oscar. She beat Meryl at the SAG awards and also won the Golden Globe. Frankly, I wouldn't like to see Meryl win her first Oscar in 27 years for the fun but lightweight Julie & Julia. Especially after the many fantastic roles she didn't win for in the intervening years. This award is Bullock's to lose.

Jeff Bridges is a dead cert for best actor in Crazy Heart. He is a veteran and five-time nominee, and the only real standout in this category, I feel. There are murmurings of an upset by George Clooney, but I severely doubt it. I don't really think he was quite as good in Up In The Air as everyone makes out -- it's just that he is George Clooney, he who can do no wrong.

If I had any doubts about Bridges before the nominations were announced, I was certain when I saw Maggie Gyllenhaal's nomination in the supporting category for the same film. She wasn't nominated at the Globes or SAG, so her nomination here is something of a shock and tells me that there is a lot more support out there for Crazy Heart than we first thought. Speaking of supporting actress, Mo'nique has this sewn up for Precious. She has stormed through awards season over co-star Gabby Sidibe, and looking at the other nominees, I don't believe there is a chance of an upset. Penelope Cruz's nomination for Nine was not entirely unexpected as she is the darling of the Academy, and Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga have been jointly nominated in every set of awards up until this point. Anna Kendrick was something of a breakout in a performance that was, by turns, hilarious and touching. And Vera Farmiga is finally getting the attention she deserves after years doing sterling work. She is an extremely watchable and charismatic actress and I hope we see much more of her in years to come.

Supporting actor is easy, too: Christoph Waltz has taken home a lot of awards for Inglourious Basterds and I think this will be the big win for that film. Nothing else too interesting in this category, although I was overjoyed to see Stanley Tucci finally receive his first Oscar nomination for The Lovely Bones (which I expected to receive more nominations actually. Curious) Tucci has done a lot of outstanding character work recently in ER, The Devil Wears Prada, and Julie & Julia so his nomination here is thoroughly deserved.

No original screenplay nomination for Avatar means that this will probably be another win for The Hurt Locker. The only other possible option here is a win for A Serious Man, as the Academy does adore the Coen brothers. But I don't think this is likely. Adapted screenplay is a bit harder to judge. There are a range of films covering a range of subjects here, but I'm pretty sure this will go to Up In The Air. The Academy loves Jason Reitman, and seeing as I don't think his film will win the awards for picture, director, or any acting, I think this is where it will be rewarded.

Usually, the editing, cinematography, and visual effects categories are hard to judge. But this year James Cameron has made it easier for us: Avatar is going to win them all. It may also win for sound aswell, but I have a sneaky feeling that The Hurt Locker will grab this one away.

All in all, a pretty robust set of nominees. More interesting than last year, anyhow.

Check back for more Oscar talk as the season progresses.

Peace xx