OSCAR NOMINATIONS 2010 REACTIONS
By: Clayton Davis
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Avatar lands 9 nominations including Best Picture and Director...
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Best Picture
* “Avatar” James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
* “The Blind Side” Nominees to be determined
* “District 9” Peter Jackson and Carolynne Cunningham, Producers
* “An Education” Finola Dwyer and Amanda Posey, Producers
* “The Hurt Locker” Nominees to be determined
* “Inglourious Basterds” Lawrence Bender, Producer
* “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels, Sarah Siegel-Magness and Gary Magness, Producers
* “A Serious Man” Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, Producers
* “Up” Jonas Rivera, Producer
* “Up in the Air” Daniel Dubiecki, Ivan Reitman and Jason Reitman, Producers
Reaction: When Anne Hathaway announced The Blind Side, it all made sense. A conservative, box office piece that voters got
behind. Avatar and The Hurt Locker lead with 9 nominations a piece. The big surprise here was Clint Eastwood's Invictus
being nearly shut out. In a year of ten, Eastwood and his film couldn't make the cut. Maybe they've grown tired of him already. A
Serious Man beats the odds of missing Golden Globe and SAG notices and nabs a Best Picture nomination. Pixar's Up also
become the second film to be nominated for Best Picture.
Predictions: 8/10 - Missing The Blind Side & District 9 for Invictus and Nine.
Actor in a Leading Role
* Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart”
* George Clooney in “Up in the Air”
* Colin Firth in “A Single Man”
* Morgan Freeman in “Invictus”
* Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker”
Reaction: The same five that everyone was predicting make the cut. This is Jeff Bridges' Oscar to lose. If there was a spoiler I'd
put money on Clooney given his popularity. It's fantastic to see Jeremy Renner get a well deserved nomination.
Predictions: 5/5 - YAY!
Actor in a Supporting Role
* Matt Damon in “Invictus”
* Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger”
* Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station”
* Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones”
* Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds”
Reaction: And unfortunately Matt Damon makes it anyway and I knew he would. I was hoping that the Academy would choose
the always snubbed Alfred Molina and the heart and soul of The Hurt Locker, Anthony Mackie. Christopher Plummer and
Stanley Tucci, after years of great supporting work, are finally Oscar nominated. That's a treat. Christoph Waltz on the surface is
still the out and out frontrunner and favorite to win this award but this is the category for surprises and veteran awards so watch
for Plummer.
Predictions: 4/5 - missing Damon for Alfred Molina.
Actress in a Leading Role
* Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side”
* Helen Mirren in “The Last Station”
* Carey Mulligan in “An Education”
* Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
* Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia”
Reaction: The five expected ladies make the cut. I was worried about Helen Mirren and I'm glad I went back on her nomination.
This is still Bullock vs. Streep but the fact that The Blind Side was nominated for Best Picture sews up Sandra Bullock's Oscar
here folks. You can argue it all you want, but she's Hollywood's Prom Queen. It's her time.
Prediction: 5/5 - YAY!
Actress in a Supporting Role
* Penélope Cruz in “Nine”
* Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air”
* Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart”
* Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air”
* Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”
Reaction: Mo'Nique, Kendrick, and Farmiga make it as suspected. Penelope Cruz's lovefest from the Academy continues with a
nomination for Nine. A wonderful surprise was Maggie Gyllenhaal showing up for Crazy Heart. The last minute category
switch worked well for the film but it's sad to see her get recognition from Oscar when she's been better in other roles. Great to
see her anyways. I wish I stuck to my guns about Julianne Moore being left off for A Single Man. A fifth nomination wouldn't
bode well without giving her the award and Mo'Nique has this locked and shut. Mo'Nique wins. Over and out!
Prediction: 4/5 - missing Gyllenhaal for Julianne Moore
Animated Feature Film
* “Coraline” Henry Selick
* “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Wes Anderson
* “The Princess and the Frog” John Musker and Ron Clements
* “The Secret of Kells” Tomm Moore
* “Up” Pete Docter
Reaction: I went against the grain thinking The Princess & the Frog would get left off but I expected to be wrong. The head
scratcher is The Secret of Kells taking the spot that was expected to go to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or Ponyo. If
anything I thought they would choose the latter. It's needless to say Up wins this given its Best Picture nomination.
Prediction: 3/5 - missing The Princess & the Frog and The Secret of Kells for Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Ponyo.
Art Direction
* “Avatar” Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair
* “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Art Direction: Dave Warren and Anastasia Masaro; Set Decoration: Caroline Smith
* “Nine” Art Direction: John Myhre; Set Decoration: Gordon Sim
* “Sherlock Holmes” Art Direction: Sarah Greenwood; Set Decoration: Katie Spencer
* “The Young Victoria” Art Direction: Patrice Vermette; Set Decoration: Maggie Gray
Reaction: The travesty here is K.K. Barret being snubbed for Where the Wild Things Are, easily one of the best production
designs of the year. I did terrible in this category prediction. Nine and Sherlock Holmes were my two alternates to be chosen.
Avatar is a likely winner here with The Young Victoria and The Imaganarium of Dr. Parnassus as spoilers.
Prediction: 2/5 - only naming Avatar and The Young Victoria.
Cinematography
* “Avatar” Mauro Fiore
* “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” Bruno Delbonnel
* “The Hurt Locker” Barry Ackroyd
* “Inglourious Basterds” Robert Richardson
* “The White Ribbon” Christian Berger
Reaction: Dion Beebe gets the boot in place of Bruno Delbonnel for Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince. This will be a
category where Avatar should also rain supreme. Barry Ackroyd and Christan Berger are spoilers that could surprise on Oscar
night.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince (alternate) for Nine
Costume Design
* “Bright Star” Janet Patterson
* “Coco before Chanel” Catherine Leterrier
* “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus” Monique Prudhomme
* “Nine” Colleen Atwood
* “The Young Victoria” Sandy Powell
Reaction: Some of the usual suspects showing up like Colleen Atwood and Sandy Powell. Bright Star gets some notice and its
the only notice its received all season long. The Young Victoria is the favorite.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing The Imaganarium of Dr. Parnassus for Sherlock Holmes
Directing
* “Avatar” James Cameron
* “The Hurt Locker” Kathryn Bigelow
* “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino
* “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Lee Daniels
* “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman
Reaction: Same five DGA nominees. Kathryn Bigelow wins. Plain and simple!
Prediction: 5/5 - YAY!
Documentary (Feature)
* “Burma VJ” Anders Østergaard and Lise Lense-Møller
* “The Cove” Nominees to be determined
* “Food, Inc.” Robert Kenner and Elise Pearlstein
* “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” Judith Ehrlich and Rick Goldsmith
* “Which Way Home” Rebecca Cammisa
Reaction: The Cove & Food Inc were expected. Burma VJ lands a deserved nomination. I haven't seen the other two but Under
our Skin was a great look at the injustice of our medical field.
Prediction: 3/5 - missing The Most Dangerous Man in America and Which Way Home for Under our Skin and Every Little Step
Documentary (Short Subject)
* “China’s Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province” Jon Alpert and Matthew O’Neill
* “The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner” Daniel Junge and Henry Ansbacher
* “The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant” Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert
* “Music by Prudence” Roger Ross Williams and Elinor Burkett
* “Rabbit à la Berlin” Bartek Konopka and Anna Wydra
Reaction: This is a crap shoot.
Prediction: 3/5
Film Editing
* “Avatar” Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron
* “District 9” Julian Clarke
* “The Hurt Locker” Bob Murawski and Chris Innis
* “Inglourious Basterds” Sally Menke
* “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Joe Klotz
Reaction: The surprise is Precious landing this nomination over Up in the Air. This hurt Up in the Air's Best Picture chances
more than you know. I think this showed more love for Precious. Avatar vs. The Hurt Locker for this one up until the envelope is
opened. The ACE will tell us all.
Prediction: Missing Precious for Up in the Air
Foreign Language Film
* “Ajami” Israel
* “El Secreto de Sus Ojos” Argentina
* “The Milk of Sorrow” Peru
* “Un Prophète” France
* “The White Ribbon” Germany
Reaction: The White Ribbon and A Prophet stand in front of all contenders but as we learned last year with Departures winning,
this category can go anywhere.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing The Milk of Sorrow for Samson & Delilah
Makeup
* “Il Divo” Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano
* “Star Trek” Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow
* “The Young Victoria” Jon Henry Gordon and Jenny Shircore
Reaction: If there is one travesty that stands above all others, it is the exclusion of District 9 here. That was some of the best
work in years. I don't see the importance of makeup in The Young Victoria. Weird choice. Keith Lucas can attest to Il Divo's
makeup nomination.
Prediction: 1/3 - OUCH - only naming Star Trek
Music (Original Score)
* “Avatar” James Horner
* “Fantastic Mr. Fox” Alexandre Desplat
* “The Hurt Locker” Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders
* “Sherlock Holmes” Hans Zimmer
* “Up” Michael Giacchino
Reaction: I give myself a pat on the back for Fantastic Mr. Fox. That was a gut last minute prediction. This is all for Michael
Giacchino and Up. The Hurt Locker here is a big show of support for the film. They loved it everywhere. Avatar is going to have
a hard time unseating Giacchino here. He's the clear favorite. And i'll say it, thank god The Informant was shut out.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing The Hurt Locker for The Informant!
Music (Original Song)
* “Almost There” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
* “Down in New Orleans” from “The Princess and the Frog” Music and Lyric by Randy Newman
* “Loin de Paname” from “Paris 36” Music by Reinhardt Wagner Lyric by Frank Thomas
* “Take It All” from “Nine” Music and Lyric by Maury Yeston
* “The Weary Kind (Theme from Crazy Heart)” from “Crazy Heart” Music and Lyric by Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett
Reaction: Two for Disney. Got it. "Take It All" instead of "Cinema Italiano." Got it. "The Weary Kind" from Crazy Heart. Definitely
got it. Paris 36? I'm as lost as some of you are.
Prediction: 2/5 - only naming 1 Princess & the Frog and Crazy Heart (I can take the Nine as a point, but I won't.)
Short Film (Animated)
* “French Roast” Fabrice O. Joubert
* “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” Nicky Phelan and Darragh O’Connell
* “The Lady and the Reaper (La Dama y la Muerte)” Javier Recio Gracia
* “Logorama” Nicolas Schmerkin
* “A Matter of Loaf and Death” Nick Park
Reaction: Your guess was as good as mine.
Prediction: 3/5 - missing Logorama and A Matter of Loaf and Death for Partly Cloudy and The Cat Piano
Short Film (Live Action)
* “The Door” Juanita Wilson and James Flynn
* “Instead of Abracadabra” Patrik Eklund and Mathias Fjellström
* “Kavi” Gregg Helvey
* “Miracle Fish” Luke Doolan and Drew Bailey
* “The New Tenants” Joachim Back and Tivi Magnusson
Reaction: Did anyone really have a "real' prediction for these?
Prediction: 3/5
Sound Editing
* “Avatar” Christopher Boyes and Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
* “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson
* “Inglourious Basterds” Wylie Stateman
* “Star Trek” Mark Stoeckinger and Alan Rankin
* “Up” Michael Silvers and Tom Myers
Reaction: Didn't see Inglourious Basterds getting so much technical love but that's cool as can be. Avatar should win this but
The Hurt Locker blends a lot of great sounds and is still a potential threat.
Prediction 4/5 - missing Inglourious Basterds for Transformers 2
Sound Mixing
* “Avatar” Christopher Boyes, Gary Summers, Andy Nelson and Tony Johnson
* “The Hurt Locker” Paul N.J. Ottosson and Ray Beckett
* “Inglourious Basterds” Michael Minkler, Tony Lamberti and Mark Ulano
* “Star Trek” Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin
* “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” Greg P. Russell, Gary Summers and Geoffrey Patterson
Reaction: No District 9? That stinks. Avatar has this one in the bag. Greg P. Russell looks to go home empty handed once
again.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing Inglourious Basterds for District 9
Visual Effects
* “Avatar” Joe Letteri, Stephen Rosenbaum, Richard Baneham and Andrew R. Jones
* “District 9” Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken
* “Star Trek” Roger Guyett, Russell Earl, Paul Kavanagh and Burt Dalton
Reaction: Same three everyone was predicting. Avatar wins by a land slide.
Prediction: 3/3 - YAY!
Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
* “District 9” Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
* “An Education” Screenplay by Nick Hornby
* “In the Loop” Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
* “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
* “Up in the Air” Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner
Reaction: Good job writers branch for going with In the Loop (wish we could have seen Peter Capaldi though). This is where
Jason Reitman will get his award and represent Up in the Air. If there is a spoiler, Precious is probably it but I couldn't imagine it
winning here. This seems sewn up already.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing In the Loop for Fantastic Mr. Fox
Writing (Original Screenplay)
* “The Hurt Locker” Written by Mark Boal
* “Inglourious Basterds” Written by Quentin Tarantino
* “The Messenger” Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
* “A Serious Man” Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
* “Up” Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
Reaction: This is the one that hurts folks. I'm not necessarily upset that The Messenger made the cut. I'm happy to see it there
actually but at the expense of the brilliant (500) Days of Summer? I would have been fine seeing Up snubbed in place of the
cinematic gem. Some are saying this is Tarantino's award, some say it's Mark Boal's award, I'm sticking with the latter. We'll
see.
Prediction: 4/5 - missing The Messenger for (500) Days of Summer
OVERALL REACTION
Films that got shut out that make me sad you ask: The Road, Public Enemies and Where the Wild Things Are. Those three
sting but the nominations overall were meh. Not too bad, not too exciting. The ten Best Picture nominees suck in my opinion. It
opened it to more box office friendly films like The Blind Side and District 9 but I don't see the quality represented. The category
seems so tainted now. The Blind Side and A Serious Man nab 2 Oscar Nominations including Best Picture. An Education
grabs 3 nominations. Those aren't Oscar Best Picture nominees. Thank you for sticking with us all season long and look for a
massive Oscar Predictions update in the upcoming day.
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