Jaffer wrote:and that Precious thing put simply looks ghastly. One look at the casting, and how they are presented, indicates the whole thing is simply a cynical ploy designed to attract buzz.. To be fair to the singers, I have heard they all give good performances though.

Can you elaborate on why you think that?

I find it sickening that precious, and especially avatar, are nominated for best movie. Avatar is in no way, barring visually, a good movie, and that Precious thing put simply looks ghastly. One look at the casting, and how they are presented, indicates the whole thing is simply a cynical ploy designed to attract buzz.. To be fair to the singers, I have heard they all give good performances though.
This seems to be the general consensus for the major awards:
Best movie- Hurt locker or Avatar
Directing-James Cameron or Kathryn Bigelow
Animated film- Up (logic denotes if up is nominated for best film, it will of course win this)
Lead Actor- Jeff Bridges
Lead Actress- Sandra Bullock
Supporting actor- Chris Waltz
Supporting actress- Mo'Nique

These are not MY predictions or my favourites, I am simply re-iterating what most others say

What I am hoping for

Best Picture:

"Up in the Air"

Actor in a leading role:

George Clooney, "Up in the Air"


Actress in a Leading Role:
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"


Actor in a Supporting Role:

Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"


Actress in a Supporting Role:

Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"

Directing:

"Up in the Air," Jason Reitman

The other day I read a pretty good article on the effects of momentum during the Oscar race using Carey Mulligan as an example. Supposedly, Carey has little chance of winning because all her hype (and there was a lot) died out early, and now others (Sandra and Meryl) have picked up too much buzz.

Good year for Sandra though (other than that Steve movie), it's nice to see her get the recognition she deserves.

The Best Actress category is so strong this year. I really hope Carey Mulligan gets it, I'm dying to see An Education. Gabourey has a good chance too.

I think Colin Firth could win, but I think the smart money is on Jeff Bridges.

HIP HIP HORRAY FOR:

Up
Sandra Bullock
Precious

its sooo weird because half of these movies i dont know....

So the nominees were announced today. What do you think? Snubs? Surprises?
And maybe it's me, but does anyone else feel like 2009 was a really weak year for movies?

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

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"

Actress in a Leading Role:
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"
Carey Mulligan, "An Education"
Gabourey Sibide, "Precious"
Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia"

Actor in a Supporting Role:
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Chistoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"

Actress in a Supporting Role:
Penelope Cruz, "Nine"
Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air"
Mo'Nique, "Precious"

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

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