Oscar picks

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March 7th is fast approaching us, and with that comes the handing out of little golden statuettes. This year The Academy has a few tricks up it's sleeves with double the hosts and double the best picture nominees. There are a multitude of categories at the ceremony, but I'm going to focus on only a few. I'll weigh in on what talkies I think deserves the gold men. I'll also let you know which ones I predict are going to win. Because who I want to win and who I think will win are usually different (but not always). First up is a fun one, the Animated Feature category:

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

I think this pick is an easy one. Very clearly Up deserves and should receive the animated feature award. There has been nothing but rave reviews for Coraline. The Fantastic Mr. Fox shares some critical success (though I personally dio not care for it that much). The emotional puppeteers at Pixar have done it again. I wouldn't want to jinx it and say that surely a movie nominated for Best Picture and Animated Film should win; but honestly, anyone who sees Up knows how well it played with our heartstrings. Hands down Up will take this category, and if it doesn't... I'd like an explanation why.

Actress in a Supporting Role Penélope Cruz - Nine Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air Mo'Nique - Precious

This list of ladies is a tricky one for me. Amongst the set of actresses chosen for the Best Supporting category, I have only seen two out of the 5 perform. Unfortunately I can only take a wild stab at who I think will take home the gold.  I liked Maggie Gyllenhaal since her stint in Donnie Darko but after taking a look at what a lot of the critics are saying, I believe Mo'Nique is probably going home with this one.

Actor in a Supporting Role Matt Damon - Invictus Woody Harrelson - The Messenger Christopher Plummer - The Last Station Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Now for those Supporting Men chasing after that Golden Guy. Let's go down the list, shall we? There is Mr. Damon, who worked with both Mr. Eastwood and Mr. Freeman (combined the three actors have a total of 6 Oscars). Then there's Woody with his knock out performance. The amazing Christopher Plummer, who I love in Doctor Parnassus and the always great Stanely Tucci. There is another though, who could it be? Bingo! It's Christoph Waltz. If this man does not walk away with the gold, The Academy ded not watch the same performance I did.

Actress in a Leading Role Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side Helen Mirren - The Last Station Carey Mulligan - An Education Gabourey Sidibe – Precious Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia

Sandy, Sandy, Sandy... Everyone seems to think because you pulled off a southern drawl that you did an amazing job. I (maybe not so) politely disagree. Though I do love a fair amount of your comedic work, I think the wonderful up and coming Gabourey Sidibe deserves the award. Lets be honest, the acadmey loves Meryl. So if anyone is to place their bet on who is going to win, I'd bet on Mrs. Streep. Sincerely, Jay.

Actor in a Leading Role Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart George Clooney - Up in the Air Colin Firth - A Single Man Morgan Freeman – Invictus Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

Quite the brawl in the Leading Role ring; The Dude,  Mr. Ocean, Mr. Darcy, God, and Hawkeye(?). Mr. Ocean (aka George Clooney) puts in a few good punches with his critically favored performance in Up in the Air. Morgan "God" Freeman, is born to play the great Nelson Mandela. It feels like Morgan is just way too comfortable in that role for my liking. I haven't had the chance to see A Single Man but Colin Firth deserves his spot on the list too. It comes down to Jeremy Renner and Jeff Bridges. I feel like both actors carry their films wonderfully and respectfully. My personal vote is for Hawkeye to go home with the gold. But my gut (and Entertainment Weekly) thinks that The Dude will go home with the title belt.

Directing Avatar - James Cameron The Hurt Locker - Kathryn Bigelow Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino Precious - Lee Daniels Up in the Air - Jason Reitman

The Directing category is a tough one to judge for a number of reasons. If someone's stamp, is all over a picture and you can tell, does that mean they've done a good job at directing a film? or not? Or perhaps the movie is poorly written in some people's eyes, but the film itself is visually stunning and helps shed new light on a new technology, does that mean the director did a good job? Or what if is just a tad bit political or deals with the issues of today, does a director get credit for that? I don't know, but my vote, if it counted, goes to Kathryn Bigelow for her work on The Hurt Locker. And my guess as to who is going to win, is none other then her husband James Cameron for bringing us Avatar. Avatar has to come away with at least the Best Director or the Best Picture.

Best Picture Avatar The Blind Side District 9 An Education The Hurt Locker Inglorious Basterds Precious A Serious Man Up Up in the Air

Or maybe Avatar could get away with getting both? I hope not. With so many options to choose from, and Avatar being a Sci-Fi film (sorry District 9, that means you too), I don't think it's going to walk away with a gold man. Instead, my prediction is that The Hurt Locker will get the credit it deserves and strike gold. I would love to seen Inglorious Basterds take this one home, but I don't think the Academy will back up a movie like this one. I've heard a couple whispers that Up could sneak in and snatch the Best Picture, but I highly doubt that. The award should go to The Hurt Locker.

Those are my thoughts and I'm sticking to them. Thanks for reading and check out for yourself who wins on Sunday March 7th at 8:00 pm EST.

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