The Oscars 2010 – Predictions

Oscar nominations were announced early this afternoon (or this morning in the US) and were mostly predictable, nominations for In The Loop and District 9 being the only gladly received surprise nominations. Below are my predictions, marked (p), and hopes, marked (h), for the Oscars. In some categories it was a hard choice as some of my favourites of the past year go head to head.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Avatar (p)

Up in the Air (h)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart (p)

George Clooney for Up in the Air (h)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side (p)

Carey Mulligan for An Education (h)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds (p,h)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air (h)

Mo’Nique for Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (p)

Best Achievement in Directing

James Cameron for Avatar (p)

Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds (h)

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

The Hurt Locker : Mark Boal (p)

Inglourious Basterds : Quentin Tarantino (h)

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

In the Loop : Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche (h)

Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire : Geoffrey Fletcher (p)

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Avatar : Mauro Fiore (p)

Inglourious Basterds : Robert Richardson (h)

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Avatar : Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg (p)

The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus : Anastasia Masaro (h)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Avatar (p)

District 9 (h)

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Fantastic Mr. Fox (h)

Up (p)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Das weisse Band – Eine deutsche Kindergeschichte (p)

Best Documentary, Features

The Cove (p)

Best Short Film, Animated

Wallace and Gromit in ‘A Matter of Loaf and Death’ (p,h)