My Oscar Predictions!

It makes me sad that Penélope Cruz will not longer be the reigning Best Supporting Actress at the Academy Awards. Her win was my favourite moment last year, and her performance in Vicky Cristina Barcelona was my favourite performance of 2008. I doubt that this year's Academy Awards will excite me as much, but there are still a few categories that could yield some surprises.

So here with go with my predictions for the 82nd Academy Awards, to be announced on Sunday, March 7, 2010.

Best Picture
What will win: The Hurt Locker.
What I want to win: Up in the Air, though sadly it is VERY unlikely.
What film should be nominated: A Single Man in place of The Blind Side and Fantastic Mr. Fox in place of District 9.
What I will do if Avatar wins: Question my obsession with the film industry.

Best Director
Who will win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker.
Who should win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker.
Who should be nominated: If Up can be nominated for Best Picture, why can Wes Anderson not be nominated for his brilliant work in Fantastic Mr. Fox?
What I will do if Avatar wins: Continue to think that James Cameron is the cockiest asshole in Hollywood and hereby refuse to see another of his films. Let's hope it takes another 12 years.

Best Actor
Who will win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart.
Who should win: Colin Firt, A Single Man, is the best performance in the category.
Who should be nominated: Michael Stuhlbarg, A Serious Man, in place of Morgan Freeman's unremarkable work in Invictus.
What I will do if Avatar wins: Praise the AMPAS for realizing that the actors in the film showcased no acting talent.

Best Actress
Who will win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side.
Who should win: Carey Mulligan, An Education. While I would prefer Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia, to win over Sandy, I think that Carey Mulligan gave the best female performance of 2009.
Who should be nominated: Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria, over Helen Mirren in The Last Station. And although Penélope Cruz was not her best in Los Abrazos Rotos, she was way ahead of Sandra Bullock.
What I will do if Avatar wins: Praise the AMPAS for realizing that the actors in the film showcased no acting talent.

Best Supporting Actor
Who will win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds.
Who should win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds.
Who should be nominated: Stanley Tucci in Julie & Julia (the better role and performance) and Alfred Molina, An Education.
What I will do if Avatar wins: Praise the AMPAS for realizing that the actors in the film showcased no acting talent.

Best Supporting Actress
Who will win: Mo'Nique, Precious.
Who should win: Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air.
Who should be nominated: Julianne Moore, A Single Man; Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds; Diane Kruger, Inglourious Basterds.
What I will do if Avatar wins: Praise the AMPAS for realizing that the actors in the film showcased no acting talent.

Best Original Screenplay: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds.
Best Adapted Screenplay: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air.
Best Animated Feature: Up (though if there was an upset and Fantastic Mr. Fox won it would make my night!).
Best Documentary Feature: The Cove.
Best Foreign Language Film: Un Prophète (France).
Best Art Direction: Sherlock Holmes.
Best Film Editing: The Hurt Locker.
Best Cinematography: The White Ribbon.
Best Make-Up: Star Trek.
Best Sound Mixing: The Hurt Locker.
Best Sound Editing: Avatar.
Best Visual Effects: Avatar.
Best Original Song: Ryan Bingham & T-Bone Burnett, The Weary Kind, Crazy Heart.
Best Original Score: Michael Giacchino, Up.
Best Costume Design: The Young Victoria.
Best Short Film (Animated): A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Best Short Film (Documentary): The Last Truck: The Closing of a GM Plant.
Best Short Film (Live Action): Miracle Fish.

Let's wait and see how I do! I am sorry for having to pick Avatar, but there are categories where it seems unlikely any other film will win.