How will you spend your Thanksgiving break?
This year's Oscar race will be a lot more exciting than the past few. For the first time since "Casablanca" beat out nine other films back in 1943, 10 films will vie for the Best Picture award. Ratings for the Oscar telecast over the past few years have not been high, in part because the nominated films have been too independent and inaccessible to mainstream audiences. With 10 nominees, however, there might be room for both critically acclaimed indies and box-office successes. The lineup of probable nominees actually seems more locked up than you might expect at this point.
Most critics agree that the race for Best Picture is among four films. Box office sci-fi smash "Avatar" won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture — Drama, no doubt for its popularity but also for its craftsmanship. Few have seen the summer Iraq War drama, "The Hurt Locker," but voters certainly have, and there is a strong chance it could upset and take the top prize. Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds" and the George Clooney dramedy "Up in the Air" are the other two films that may have a shot at winning Best Picture. Pixar's "Up" is also expected to show up on the list, which would make it the second animated film nominated for Best Picture after "Beauty in the Beast" in 1991. "Invictus" and "Precious," the breakout film championed by Oprah Winfrey, also have a good chance at a nomination. The remaining three slots are more uncertain, but two will likely be filled by British indie "An Education" and the Coen brothers' newest, "A Serious Man."
The 10th slot is the only real wild card, and it could easily go to any of the following films: "Nine," "District 9," "The Last Station," "(500) Days of Summer," "Star Trek," "The Road," "Julie & Julia" or "The Messenger."
The acting nominations look to be just as locked up as those in the Best Picture category, and it's more interesting to discuss the forecasted winners.
Three of the acting categories have a clear front-runner. Best Actor should go to Jeff Bridges, who has earned four nominations in nearly 40 years but has yet to win an Oscar. His career-defining performance as an aging musician in "Crazy Heart" should lead him to victory, provided he can beat the ever-popular George Clooney, who will definitely be nominated for "Up in the Air." The supporting categories will go to Christoph Waltz for his terrifying and hilarious portrayal of a Nazi in "Inglourious Basterds" and Mo'Nique for her turn as an abusive mother in "Precious."
Best Actress is shaping up to be much more of a contest than any of the other races. Meryl Streep will probably earn her 16th nomination for "Julie & Julia." She hasn't won since picking up her second trophy in 1983 for "Sophie's Choice." Initially, British breakout Carey Mulligan was her strongest competition for "An Education," but recently Sandra Bullock has charged to the front of the race for her dramatic performance in "The Blind Side."
Oscar nominations are announced on the morning of Tuesday, Feb. 2, and awards will be handed out live on Sunday, March 7.
