Oscar Predix

I suppose I must, so here goes...

Picture

• Inglourious Basterds
• The Hurt Locker
• Precious
• Avatar
• Up in the Air
• An Education
• Up
• Invictus
• A Serious Man
• District 9

The first five are the ones that would still be nominated even if there were still only five nominees (you know, like there should be!).  The next two are pretty solid too.  The last three are anybody's guess.  I seem to have gone out on a limb with District 9, but who cares.  Other notables that could sneak in are The Messenger, The Last Station, Nine, A Single Man, Star Trek and/or The Hangover.

Director

• Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
• Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker)
• Lee Daniels (Precious)
• James Cameron (Avatar)
• Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)

These are all pretty solid.  I suppose Clint Eastwood could sneak in but not likely.

Actor

• Colin Firth (A Single Man)
• George Clooney (Up in the Air)
• Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
• Morgan Freeman (Invictus)
• Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Actress

• Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)
• Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side)
• Helen Mirren (The Last Station)
• Gabourey Sidibe (Precious)
• Carey Mulligan (An Education)

These ten actors are pretty much what it's going to be.  Haven't seen a single Oscar pundit claim otherwise.  There are bound to be a surprise or two but those are more likely in the supporting realms...and speaking of which...

Supporting Actor

• Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
• Woody Harrelson (The Messenger)
• Christopher Plummer (The Last Station)
• Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones)
• Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles)

The last two are shaky and Tucci could surprise by getting nominated for Julie & Julia instead.  Matt Damon's buzz has all but evaporated but he is Matt Damon, so I suppose we shouldn't count him out.  The two dark horse in the race (other than McKay - who qualifies for that moniker as well) are Anthony Mackie for The Hurt Locker and/or Alfred Molina for An Education.  Neither one's nomination would surprise me.

Supporting Actress

• Mo'Nique (Precious)
• Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air)
• Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds)
• Julianne Moore (A Single Man)
• Penelope Cruz (Nine)

I said there would be surprises and here they are dammit!!  Laurent is probably a no go but I couldn't leave my phantom of the cinematheque angel out of the race.  Vera Farmiga for Up in the Air is probably the safer (and smarter) bet.  We could also possibly see Samantha Morton (The Messenger), Emma Thompson (An Education), Marion Cotillard (Nine) or even Sigourney Weaver if the Avatar bandwagon keeps rolling all the way down the line.

I suppose I could go on and predict all twenty-four categories but I'm tired of typing so that is that.  I guess we'll all find out tomorrow in the a.m..  See you then...