Oscar Predictions...

Tomorrow morning at around 8:37 am (no comment on the fact I know the exact time) they'll announce the nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards. Those of you who know me are aware of how much I look forward to the Oscars each year, but somehow it's the excitement of the nominations announcement that is even more fun. There's always at least one surprise that makes me say "really?" or "wow!"

So here are my predictions for those who will hear their names called tomorrow morning. I'm never quite right in most categories, but it's fun to try. Be sure to check back and see how I did!

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

Analysis: This is the one category I feel fairly confident about. While the Oscar seems to be Jeff Bridges' to lose, George Clooney, Colin Firth and Morgan Freeman gave well-praised performances, and Jeremy Renner is the standout in one of the films that will make a big splash tomorrow.


Best Actress
Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie and Julia

Analysis: I'm going out on a limb and picking Emily Blunt to get an Oscar nod rather than Helen Mirren for her performance in the widely panned The Last Station, although Mirren is certainly an Oscar fave. There's a tiny possibility Abbie Cornish could surprise for Bright Star or Tilda Swinton could for Julia.


Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Walz, Inglourious Basterds

Analysis: If anyone is at risk in this category, it's Christopher Plummer. While Captain Von Trapp has never gotten a nomination, his movie has gotten a fairly tepid reaction. I still think sentimentality, which rules at the Oscars, will tip the scales in Plummer's favor, but if anyone can slip in with a surprise nomination, it's Alec Baldwin, one of this year's Oscar hosts, for It's Complicated.


Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Melanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds
Mo'Nique, Precious

Analysis: Will it be Diane Krueger over her costar Melanie Laurent, or will both triumph and knock Penelope Cruz out of the running? Or will Julianne Moore get her fifth nomination for A Single Man? Time will tell.


Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Clint Eastwood, Invictus
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Analysis: I'm hoping Lee Daniels will become the second black man to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Director for Precious, but for some reason I think perennial Oscar fave Clint Eastwood might steal his slot.


Best Picture
An Education
Avatar
District 9
The Hangover
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Invictus
Precious
Up
Up in the Air

Analysis: With 10 nominations, it could be anyone's game. Some think Star Trek could get in. Others think A Single Man or A Serious Man could get the nod. I'm hoping for (500) Days of Summer but we'll see...