The Oscar Nominations - a few suprises!

Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards

Best 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” 

I was watching on the Today show, and they cut to Jeremy Renner in their studio hugging his co-star.  I'm so glad for him, as it's very well deserved.  No real surprises in Best Actor.

Best Supporting Actor

• Matt Damon in “Invictus”
• Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
• Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
• Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
• Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” 

We all know who's going to win this one.  Christoph Waltz got applause in the room as they announced.

Best Actress

• Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
• Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
• Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

Among the actor categories, this is the true race.  Meryl Streep or Sandra Bullock?

Best Supporting Actress

• Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
• Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
• Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
• Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” 

Mo'Nique all the way.  I'm so pleased for the two actresses from Up in the Air, who were both so great.  Penelope Cruz gets the lonely nomination for "Nine".

Best animated feature film of the year

• “Coraline”
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox”
• “The Princess and the Frog”
• “The Secret of Kells”
• “Up"

What a year, that there were enough for five animated films to be nominated for the first time.


Best Director

• “Avatar”, James Cameron
• “The Hurt Locker”, Kathryn Bigelow
• “Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino 
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”, Lee Daniels
• “Up in the Air”, Jason Reitman

Kathryn Bigelow was also on the Today show, and she just looked so wonderful and pleased for the film and for Jeremy.


Best motion picture of the year

• “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” (Walt Disney)
• “Up in the Air”

The stunner here is The Blind Side, which got an audible gasp in the room when it was announced.  It took the spot that probably would have been Invictus.  Up is now the second animated movie to get a best picture nom (Beauty and the Beast was the first).

Adapted screenplay

• “District 9”, Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
• “An Education”, Screenplay by Nick Hornby
• “In the Loop”, Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”, Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• “Up in the Air”, Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

Woot for District 9!!  In the Loop was a surprise here.

Original screenplay

• “The Hurt Locker”, Written by Mark Boal
• “Inglourious Basterds”, Written by Quentin Tarantino
• “The Messenger”, Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
• “A Serious Man”, Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• “Up”, Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

What's a glaring omission for me in the screenplay category is (500) Days of Summer.  I'm so disappointed that film was completely shut out.  I felt it was so original and fresh.


So, in the final tally Avatar and The Hurt Locker tie with 9 nominations each.  Wow!  Even with all the technical categories for Avatar, they are even with the actor nomination for Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker.  I am so pleased that District 9 did so well in the nominations.  Very well deserved.

This will be the first year since 1943 that there are 10 Best Picture nominees (Casablanca won that year).  I think it will do what was intended, garner a bigger viewing audience for the award show.  There is something for everyone, with two very popular films, The Blind Side and Avatar nominated.  Also, there's two for the sci-fi crowd, with Avatar and District 9 for Best Picture.

Here's hoping Kathryn Bigelow and The Hurt Locker win the big prize on March 7!