2010 Oscar Predictions
5/03/2010
The Academy's "Night of Nights" is almost upon us! Blogger Matthew Jenkin peers into his crystal ball and predicts who'll be 2010's big winners.
Picking the Oscars is a little like a multiple choice exam on advanced physics - you haven't got a clue so you close your eyes, swing your pen in the air and see where it lands. Heck, any of the answers could be right, right?
Over the years, there's been a few upsets: (Crash beating Brokeback Mountain in 2006), the recognition of box office success (Titanic in 1998) and last year, the Academy taking the opportunity to embrace Bollywood rather than trying to compete with it, by giving Slumdog Millionaire eight Oscars.
So let the guessing commence!
Best Picture
The Hurt Locker
There's been a whole lotta talk about Avatar and how it's made JC and Fox Studios gazillionaires, but one film took the audience right into the heart of a U.S. soldier in Iraq. This war has been hammered in the press in the States and giving The Hurt Locker the Oscar will be Hollywood's way of protesting to the White House.
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow
There's a few ways of looking at this one - if The Hurt Locker wins Best Picture, then there's a big chance this Oscar will go to JC as the only recognition for Avatar on the night will be for special effects. But the fact is a female has NEVER won the Academy Award for Best Director. This year is the Academy's opportunity to not only recognise a war film about Iraq, but to show support for women filmmakers also.
Best Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges
After taking out the award at the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild, it's hard to go passed him. Colin Firth has won critical acclaim for his role in A Single Man and Academy favourite George Clooney is always in with a shot. This is Bridges' fifth Oscar nomination and many will agree that this is his time.
Best Actress in a Leading Role
Sandra Bullock
Two schools of thought here. This is Meryl Streep's 16th Oscar nomination and only twice has she won, the last time in 1983 for Sophie's Choice. Like Bridges, she is due for the accolade. However, although she has starred in some shockers and this is her first nomination, American critics have been raving about Sandra Bullock's performance in The Blind Side which won her a Golden Globe. Plus she plays a nice Southern woman who takes in a poor man. Knowing the Academy, Bullock's got this one in the bag.
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Christoph Waltz
There seems to be little argument in this category. Although this is his maiden nomination, he has taken out dozens of film critic's awards in addition to the Golden Globe and Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival last year. The only possible surprise here could be Stanley Tucci for his dark turn in The Lovely Bones but is highly unlikely.
Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Mo'Nique
This category has often been dubbed the "Cursed Oscar" as it has killed off many careers after winning the award. Think Kim Basinger in 1997 or Mira Sorvino in 1995. Like Waltz, Mo'Nique has taken out several film critic's awards and the Golden Globe so it's hard to tip against her. There is strong support for Penelope Cruz but no woman has won the supporting Oscar two years in a row before.
Best Original Screenplay
Inglourious Basterds
The appeal of this film baffles me but critics and audiences flocked to QT's reworking of history. I don't think it deserves to win but it will. In a perfect world, the Coen Brothers would be recognised for their highly under rated gem A Serious Man.
Best Adapted Screenplay
Up In The Air
Jason Reitman's film was a rarity in this modern age - a mainstream film with a message and something to say. It will be overlooked for it's other nominations so this will be it's form of recognition. Plus it's a film about the global financial crisis. Again, the whole politics thing.
Best Animated Feature
Up
Pixar's resume over the past ten years is phenomenal. This is enough to get Up over the line. It's a shame that Fantastic Mr Fox will be overlooked as this was a wonderful adaptation of a classic Roald Dahl book.
So there you have it. Your guess is as good as mine!
We'll be covering the awards live on Monday morning right here on the Video Ezy website, so check in during the day to find out who will win!
Images copyright - Crazy Heart Lorey Sebastian / 20th Century Fox, The Blind Side Ralph Nelson / Warner Bros., Inglourious Basterds François Duhamel / The Weinstein Co., Precious Anne Marie Fox / Lionsgate.
Go back to article listing