Avatar, Hurt Locker Lead Oscar Nominations

[sherlew (Ret)]

Via the Vancouver Sun

Avatar, Hurt Locker Lead Oscar Nominations

By Jay Stone, Canwest News Service
February 2, 2010

Link to article


Avatar and The Hurt Locker are facing off for best picture and best director in the 82nd Academy Awards.

It's a predictable contest, with James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow — ex-husband and ex-wife — both up for the directing positions. No woman has ever won the award.

There were a few curves announced Tuesday in the best picture category, which also includes the crowd-pleaser The Blind Side, the low-budget sci-fi hit District 9, the dark Coen brothers film A Serious Man, the animated film Up, as well as An Education, Inglorious Basterds, Precious, and Up in the Air, the early favourite, before Avatar came on the scene.

Other best director nominees were also surprising: Quentin Tarantino, Lee Daniels and Jason Reitman all made it but perennial academy darling Clint Eastwood was snubbed.

For best actor, the nominees are Jeff Bridges — who is favoured to win — George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman and Jeremy Renner, the dark horse star of The Hurt Locker.

Best actress nominees are Sandra Bullock — who won the Golden Globe in this category — Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sibide and Meryl Streep for her role in Julie & Julia.

Best supporting actor nominees are Matt Damon for Invictus, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci (for the Lovely Bones, rather than Julie & Julia) and overwhelming favourite Christoph Waltz.

For supporting actress, along with the probable winner Mo'Nique, are Penelope Cruz, Vera Fermiga and Anna Kendrick (both from Up in the Air) and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The Oscars will be handed out March 7.


Best Picture:

Avatar

Inglourious Basterds

Up in the Air

The Hurt Locker

Precious

UP

An Education

A Serious Man

The Blind Side

District 9


Best Director:

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

James Cameron, Avatar

Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Lee Daniels, Precious


Best Actor:

Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

George Clooney, Up in the Air

Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Colin Firth, A Single Man

Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker


Best Actress:

Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Carey Mulligan, An Education

Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Gabourey Sidibe, Precious


Best Supporting Actor:

Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

Christopher Plummer, The Last Station

Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Matt Damon (Invictus)


Best Supporting Actress:

Mo'Nique, Precious

Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air

Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

Penelope Cruz (Nine)

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart


Best Adapted Screenplay:

An Education, Nick Hornby

District 9, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

Precious, Geoffrey Fletcher

Up in the Air, Jason Rietman and Sheldon Turner

In the Loop, Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche


Best Original Screenplay:

THe Hurt Locker, Mark Boal

Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino

A Serious Man, Joel and Ethan Coen

Up, Bob Peterson and Pete Docter

The Messenger, Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman


Animated Feature:

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Up

[Tomspy77]

I have not seen so may of these it would be hard for me to tell who should win. I have Inglorious Bastards and have not watched it yet, and I thought Up was a pretty cool Disney/Pixar film.

I have heard bad things about Avatar despite it's success, that it has no really strong plot points and is just built around special effects.

[sherlew (Ret)]

I rather liked "Avatar," and recommend it. It's so-call "weak points" aren't really an issue, to me anyway. I wouldn't listen too much to the critics and the critic wannabes.

I also liked "Up," "Coraline and District 9." Haven't seen "The Secret of Kells." It sounds interesting. Will try to look it up. Haven't seen "Inglorious Bastards," either.

[Tomspy77]

My girl friend saw Caroline, and thought it was pretty good.

[sherlew (Ret)]

It is, I recommend it.

[Tomspy77]

I tried to watch Hurt Locker, and I have to admit I do not have much of a soft spot for war movies at all, and although I do like some like Full Metal Jacket or Heartbreak Ridge or The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I have even less like for modern 'Middle East' set movies, both because I have no interest and don't want us to be there and I think it may be too soon for those returning from military duty in that part of the world.

[sherlew (Ret)]

You're probably right about that. Those coming back home will need to readjust to normal life and don't need stuff like that. These films have a popular pull, though, so the movie makers will produce them.

I don't care for war movies, either, and have no plans to watch the Hurt Locker at this time. I really do hope that Avatar wins best picture.