2010 Oscar Nominations and Predictions

The nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards were announced this morning (February 2, 2010) by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2008 Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married). Although there were a few surprises (the biggest being Disney’s Up getting nominated for both Animated Feature Film and Best Picture) most of the films mentioned have been doing the awards circuit for a few months and were predicted to be nominated weeks ago.

Below are the nominees for the main categories along with my predictions of who I believe will win and who I feel should win. For a full list of nominees in all categories visit the Academy Awards site.

The Oscars are handed out live on Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. EST during a televised broadcast hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin.

Actor in a Leading Role – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Who Should Win: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
Wild Card: Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Actor in a Supporting Role – Nominees

Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Who Will Win: Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Who Should Win: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Wild Card: Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

Actress in a Leading Role – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Who Should Win: Gabourey Sidibe, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Wild Card: Carey Mulligan, An Education

Actress in a Supporting Role – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: Mo’nique, Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Who Should Win: Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Wild Card: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

Best Director – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: James Cameron, Avatar
Who Should Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Wild Card: Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Best Original Screenplay – Nominees

The Hurt Locker, Mark Boal
Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino
The Messenger, Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
A Serious Man, Joel & Ethan Coen
Up, Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, and Tom McCarthy

Who Will Win: A Serious Man, Joel & Ethan Coen
Who Should Win: Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino
Wild Card: The Hurt Locker, Mark Boal

Best Adapted Screenplay – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: An Education, Nick Hornby
Who Should Win: Up in the Air, Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Wild Card: Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire, Geoffrey Fletcher

Animated Feature Film – Nominees

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Secret of Kells
Up
The Princess and the Frog

Who Will Win: Up
Who Should Win: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Wild Card: Coraline

Best Picture – Nominees

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

Who Will Win: Avatar
Who Should Win: Up in the Air
Wild Card: The Hurt Locker

Are you happy with the nominations? Agree or disagree with my picks? Leave a comment below or e-mail bmckechnie@gmail.com and have your say.

Top image: Oscar-nominated actress Anne Hathaway and Academy President Tom Sherak announced the nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater. Credit: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S.