Predictions for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

Below are two of our writers predictions for what will win at the Oscars on March 7th. Come back tomorrow night for live coverage of the telecast.

Last year I correctly predicted 17 of the 24 categories at the 81st Academy Awards. Below are my predictions for what will win tomorrow night at the 82nd Academy Awards. Some are educated guesses, and some are just that, guesses.

The Best Picture race is between Avatar and The Hurt Locker, and I think The Hurt Locker will end up winning. It is definitely the stronger of the two, and a downright excellent movie, but I still think it would be great if Up in the Air won. Kathryn Bigelow should and will win Best Director, becoming the first woman ever to do so.

-John C.

Best Picture - The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Leading role - Jeff Bridges-Crazy Heart

Actor in a Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz-Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role - Sandra Bullock-The Blind Side

Actress in a Supporting Role - Mo’Nique-Precious

Animated Feature Film - Up

Art Direction - Avatar

Cinematography - Avatar

Costume Design - Bright Star

Directing - Kathryn Bigelow-The Hurt Locker

Documentary Feature - The Cove

Documentary Short - The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

Film Editing - The Hurt Locker

Foreign Language Film - The White Ribbon

Makeup - Star Trek

Music (Original Score) - Michael Giacchino-Up

Music (Original Song) - The Weary King-Crazy Heart

Short Film (Animated) - A Matter of Loaf and Death

Short Film (Live Action) - Miracle Fish

Sound Editing - Star Trek

Sound Mixing - The Hurt Locker

Visual Effects - Avatar

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay) - Inglourious Basterds

Here is my ranking of the Best Picture nominees:

I have organized the 10 Best Picture nominees into order of my personal preference. Though I must add that these are ten very deserving films. Any one of them could be the winner - and I’d be okay with it. My top 3 are all practically on the same level, but my number one is elevated just above the top, because of one particular sequence...

-John C.

10 - Precious - ***1/2 - Excellent, with some great performances, but overrated.

9 - Inglourious Basterds - ***1/2 - Another very good film from Quentin Tarantino.

8 - The Blind Side - ***1/2 - An uplifting sports movie, with some very good performances.

7 - Avatar - ***3/4 - Though far from perfect, and not the best movie of last year, as a piece of entertainment, I loved it.

6 - District 9 - **** - A thought-provoking piece of contemporary sci-fi.

5 - An Education - **** - A wonderful film.

4 - A Serious Man - **** - A serious masterpiece.

3 - The Hurt Locker - **** - This comes in a very close third. An amazingly tense and powerful achievement.

2 - Up in the Air - **** - This comes in a very close second. The acting, writing, and performances are all impeccable. Jason Reitman’s third-great film.

1 - Up - **** - Pixar’s latest masterpiece. Not only was it my favourite movie going memory of ‘09, but nothing in any of the Best Picture nominees was quite as emotionally powerful as that opening montage.

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Last year I guessed 16 out of 24 correctly. I am hoping for 20 this year. Below are my guesses for each of the categories.

Best Picture - The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Leading role - Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart

Actor in a Supporting Role - Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Actress in a Leading Role - Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side

Actress in a Supporting Role - Mo’Nique - Precious

Animated Feature Film - Up

Art Direction - Avatar

Cinematography - Inglourious Basterds

Costume Design - The Young Victoria

Directing - Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

Documentary Feature - The Cove

Documentary Short - The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant

Film Editing - The Hurt Locker

Foreign Language Film - The White Ribbon

Makeup - Star Trek

Music (Original Score) - Michael Giacchino - Up

Music (Original Song) - The Weary King - Crazy Heart

Short Film (Animated) - A Matter of Loaf and Death

Short Film (Live Action) - Miracle Fish

Sound Editing - Up

Sound Mixing - The Hurt Locker

Visual Effects - Avatar

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Up in the Air

Writing (Original Screenplay) - Up

And next are my ranking of the 10 films nominated for Best Picture.

10. Precious - ***3/4 - The more I think back on this film, I think of it as closer to 3 1/2 stars now. I guess it deserves it's spot on the list, but it's not one of my top ten of the year.

9. An Education - ***3/4 - A nice quiet film, although I didn't like it quite as much as I had hoped. The acting by was what carried this film.

8. Inglourious Basterds - ***1/2 - More of a set piece than a historical film, but it was made with a love of cinema and has it's moments that make it worth checking out.

7. Avatar - ***2/3 - Slightly over hyped, and compared to Cameron's last film, Titanic, this film is not even close. As a blockbuster though, loads of fun.

6. District 9 - **** - Not one you'd watch over and over again, but one I am glad to have seen at least once. It really made me feel for it's characters.

5. The Blind Side - ***3/4 - A feel-good film that tells an inspiring true story. I put it just above District 9 as it is one that I would be more likely to want to sit through again.

/3. The Hurt Locker - **** - A brilliantly suspenseful film. A truly emotional look at war.

\3. A Serious Man - **** - A darkly funny look at a man trying to live a serious life.

2. Up in the Air - **** - An important film for a time of recession.

1. Up - **** - One of Pixar's masterpieces. And one of the most well-rounded and emotional films of the year.

- Erin V.