The countdown has begun for the Academy Awards function at Hollywood on 7 March 2010. Avatar and The Hurt Locker compete for best picture and best director in the 82nd Academy Awards.
Though avatar leads a long list of nominations, Rob Marshall’s big-screen musical Nine is in the running for four Oscars at this year’s Academy Awards.
Maury Yeston’s “Take It All” is named in the category for best original song, though Marion Cotillard, who performed it in the film, is not nominated for best supporting actress - co-star Penelope Cruz is. The film is also up for best art direction and best costumes.
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.
The best picture category 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.
Following are the list of nominees at a glimse:
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Category |
Nominees |
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Best Picture |
Avatar Inglourious Basterds Up in the Air The Hurt Locker Precious Up An Education A Serious Man The Blind Side District 9
|
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Best Director |
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker James Cameron, Avatar Jason Reitman, Up in the Air Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds Lee Daniels, Precious
|
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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
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Best Actress |
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side Carey Mulligan, An Education Helen Mirren, The Last Station Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
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Best Supporting Actor |
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones Christopher Plummer, The Last Station Woody Harrelson, The Messenger Matt Damon (Invictus)
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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
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Animated Feature |
Coraline Fantastic Mr. Fox The Princess and the Frog The Secret of Kells Up
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