Oscar Predictions The Big Five Lead Male Actor

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

My prediction: Jeff Bridges - He's gotten so much push from the studio and publicity in the form of For Your Consideration, he's been groomed to win this. He's also a great actor who's proved his chops, a cult favorite and has been nominated a total of 5 times with no win. 2010 is his year. Lead Female Actor

Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” Carey Mulligan in “An Education” Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”

My choice: Carey Mulligan - An Education was amazing, and I bought every minute of it because of Mulligan and her naive, bright-eyed portrayal of a school girl trying to become a bourgeois woman. My prediction: Sandra Bullock - Call me crazy, but I just have a feeling that this one is going to go to Bullock. She's one of America's Sweethearts, but she's at a strange stage in her life where she's getting older but can still play some of the hot roles. This can work, but with Bullock's traditional picking of rom-com films it won't play for long; she's going to have to dig deep and deliver, like we know she can. She won the Globe and SAG Actor for her role in The Blind Side, which, while it's an odd role to be nominated for, she's still got momentum off her previous wins. Plus her accent was awesome! Adapted Screenplay

District 9 An Education In the Loop Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Up in the Air

My choice: An Education - Again, I feel An Education, by people who have seen it is highly revered, however, most people haven't even heard of it, let alone seen it (saw it? Sometimes I'm amazed I call myself a writer when I can't even grasp basic grammar). The script is impeccable, but has no kitsch. My prediction: Precious - The opposite of what I said for An Education goes for Precious. It's a good movie, however I do find it semi-exploitative. The script is good, but the movie has incredible buzz. It's not going to win best picture so they've got to give it something. Original Screenplay

The Hurt Locker Inglourious Basterds The Messenger A Serious Man Up

My choice: The Messenger - Like An Education, I found The Messenger incredibly deep and intellectually arousing, however, it is a virtual unknown in popular culture and therefore, no one will care or even remember if it wins, so why bother? My prediction: The Hurt Locker - Since I have a feeling Bigelow is going to win for best director, the momentum from her Oscar buzz is going to carry over into some of the other categories, ie screenplay. Directing

Avatar The Hurt Locker Inglourious Basterds Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire Up in the Air

My prediction: The Hurt Locker - I think I've said all I can about this. She both should win it and will win it. Oscar history is in the making people! Best Picture

Avatar The Blind Side District 9 An Education The Hurt Locker Inglourious Basterds Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire A Serious Man Up Up in the Air

My choice: Toss up between The Hurt Locker and An Education - This is kind of like voting for President. You want to vote for the Independent, but you know there's no way in hell they're going to win, so you have to choose between the Democrat and Republican. I personally would have nominated different films, but out of the lot I feel An Education was best. However, if I were a voting party I would probably cast my ballot for The Hurt Locker, because, as it usually is, a vote for an Independent Party is a waste of a vote. My prediction: The Hurt Locker - This choice is made much harder simply because there are 10 nominations, but if you take out the 5 that would normally not be nominated; Up, A Serious Man, The Blind Side, District 9 and Inglorious Basterds, you're left with 5, and of the 5 it makes it much easier to see that The Hurt Locker is poised for a best picture upset, something we haven't had in a while. Other Notable Categories - Pg 3