District Sci Fi

Here are my predictions for Oscar nominations to be announced tonight (Manila time):

best picture: Avatar; District 9; An Education; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; Invictus; Precious; Star Trek; Up; Up in the Air

Commercial successes that can possibly sneak in: The Blind Side, The Hangover, and It's Complicated. The chances for Nine have been nil, and A Serious Man is a very long shot.


best director: Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker; James Cameron for Avatar; Lee Daniels for Precious; Jason Reitman for Up in the Air; Quentin Tarantino for Inglourious Basterds

There has been a slight surge for Lone Scherfig for An Education, although that might not be enough. If it is, then that would mean two women will get nominated in this category in the same year. Neill Blomkamp (District 9) and Pete Docter (Up) are dark horses. Reitman might be passed over in this category.


best original screenplay: 500 Days of Summer; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; A Serious Man; Up

Look for spoilers in Avatar and It's Complicated.


best adapted screenplay: District 9; An Education; In the Loop; Precious; Up in the Air

Fantastic Mr. Fox, Julie & Julia, or A Single Man might still make it.


best lead actor: 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

There has been some support lately for Peter Sarsgaard (An Education), and it is too bad Ben Foster (The Messenger) has been left out of the race. If anyone is dropping out, that would be Freeman. But that would be unlikely because he is playing a political figure who is larger than life. How can the liberals resist?


best lead actress: Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side; Helen Mirren in The Last Station; Carey Mulligan in An Education; Gabourey Sidibe in Precious; Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia

Watch out for a surprise from Emily Blunt (The Young Victoria).


best supporting actor: 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

Possible entries: Christian McKay (Me and Orson Welles) and Alfred Molina (An Education).


best supporting actress: Penelope Cruz in Nine; Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air; Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air; Mo'Nique in Precious; Julianne Moore in A Single Man

The tightest race this year. Nine has been on a downward spiral, and it is possible Cruz will lose her spot to somebody like Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart) or Samantha Morton (The Messenger). One of the ladies from Up in the Air may also have to yield her slot to someone from Inglourious Basterds- that's going to be Diane Kruger or Melanie Laurent.

Wouldn't that be nice? Seeing Sarsgaard and Gyllenhaal nominated in the same year?

best cinematography: Avatar; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; Nine; White Ribbon

Robert Richardson (Inglourious Basterds) is the only American in this bunch.


best editing: Avatar; District 9; The Hurt Locker; A Serious Man; Up in the Air

best visual effects: Avatar; District 9; Star Trek

best art direction: Avatar; The Hurt Locker; Inglourious Basterds; The Lovely Bones; A Serious Man

best costume design: Coco Before Chanel; Julie & Julia; Nine; Sherlock Holmes; The Young Victoria