The Big Oscar

The Oscars are here. Top film bloggers and directors predict who'll take home some metal

The Oscars are here. Top film bloggers and directors predict who'll take home some metal

As the 82 Annual Academy Awards unfold tonight, the Academy has incorporated some major changes, the most prominent one being the change in the voting system for the Best Picture Category that has 10 movies nominated under it.



Will it be front-runner Avatar or will The Hurt Locker directed by James Cameron's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow take away the coveted statue? Sunday MiD DAY checks with some of the most followed film bloggers, and directors for their predictions.

Avatar is the front-runner in the best picture category

Best picture

Nominees: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

Some strong films have been nominated in this category and have received great acclaim. Yet the toss up is between multi-million dollar Avatar and the smaller film The Hurt Locker based on the Iraq war. Raja Sen, a film critic who also writes at rajasen.wordpress.com says, "Films that have also been nominated in the Best Director category have a more realistic chance of winning.

The Academy is leaning towards Avatar." Somen Mishra, the man behind moifightclub.wordpress.com says though The Hurt Locker is a good film, nothing can beat the experience of watching Avatar.

Upset winner: Up in the Air for its relevance among American public.

George Clooney (Up in the Air)u00a0 is Bridges' closest competitor

Actor in a leading role

Nominees: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

There really is no debate here.

All three bloggers agree that the actor in a leading role statue will go to Jeff Bridges. Raja says, "His nomination is being compared to Mickey Rourke's for last year's Wrestler.

Jeff Bridges plays an alcoholic country singer in Crazy Heart. Most say the film will get him the Oscar for actor in a leading role

It's an Oscar-friendly film; it's a film that is an actor's vehicle. Bridges has also been around for such a long time." Somen agrees, saying Bridges' role is perfect Oscar material.u00a0

Upset winner: George Clooney, but the chances are slim.

Meryl Streep

Actress in a leading role

Nominees: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Helen Mirren (The Last Station), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

This one's the weakest category as far as nominations go. Yet when forced to pick, there's a toss up between Meryl Streep and Sandra Bullock, the latter standing a strong chance.

There has been a lot of buzz about Sandra Bullock's role and she has already won a few awards for her performance. Somen says that Meryl Streep has been-there-done-that.
u00a0

Sandra Bullock

Raja adds that although she has done a good job, it's not a great performance compared to her previous work, case in point Kramer vs Kramer for which she won the best supporting actress Oscar.

That leaves Sandra Bullock, who, if Raja is to be believed, has been nominated for a film that should have not received any nominations at all. Yet most say it will be her day.u00a0

Upset winner: Carey Mulligan. The Academy has been open to giving the award in this particular category to fresh young talent.

Kathryn Bigelow's The Hurt Locker

Best Director

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

The battle here too, is between James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow. Neeraj Ghaywan, author of the website Passion for Cinema says, "It's a tough category. You have to give it to Cameron for his effort. Yet Bigelow's The Hurt Locker was more real and organic."

Some gender politics could also come into play, says Raja, with a form of reserve sexism working in Bigelow's favour as she would be the first female director to win an Oscar.u00a0

Upset winner: Jason Reitman for Up in the Air since his story was relevant and intelligently told.

Christoph Waltz

Actor in a supporting role

Nominees: Matt Damon (Invictus), Woody Harrelson (The Messenger), Christopher Plummer (The Last Station), Stanley Tucci (The Lovely Bones), Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)

Christoph Waltz is the winner and no one can deal with an upset winner if there might be one. Raja even says that he would not have called Brad Pitt the leading actor of Inglourious Basterds, "Like Javier Bardem won in the same category last year for No Country for Old Men, Waltz too will take the Oscar.

They were nominated in this category only because they play negative characters. Waltz has already won a few awards for his role."

Upset winner: None.

Actress in a supporting role

Nominees: Penu00c3u00a9lope Cruz (Nine), Vera Farmiga (Up in the Air), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Crazy Heart), Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air), Mo'Nique (Precious)

There really is no one who can give serious competition to Mo'Nique, says Neeraj. Her performance had some dramatic and effective moments that lent themselves beautifully to this film. She will win hands down.

Upset winner: None. This category is locked by Mo'Nique.