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The Oscars: Who Will Win in 2010?

by Freeman Montaque
03/01/2010

Well, it's finally time. As quickly as 2009 came and went, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards are now upon us. All the other precursor awards given out during the year were leading up to this, and for the most part, it looks like things will play out in more or less the same fashion.

So, let's get down to business. Here's who I think will win what come Sunday, March 7th:

BEST PICTURE: The Hurt Locker.
Except for the Golden Globe, it's won all of the big awards, including the DGA, the PGA, the BAFTA and the Critics Choice trophies. Facts show that all films that won the DGA, the ACE and the WGA in the same year went on to claim Best Picture. Locker’s won all the above.

DIRECTOR: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker.
The DGA was big enough, but wins at BAFTA and the Critics Choice really put her in the driver's seat. Not to mention, she actually deserves it.

ACTOR: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart.
He has the "due" factor in his favor, and with relatively weak competition, Bridges should expect to earn his first Academy Award on Sunday night.

ACTRESS: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side.
After tying with Meryl Streep twice at the Critics Choice and Golden Globes (sort of), Bullock moved out in front after winning the SAG. The fact that her mediocre film was nominated in the Best Picture category means her chances of picking up an Oscar are very high.

SUPPORTING ACTOR: Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds.
He's won virtually every award possible, he actually is the best supporting actor of the year, decades from now people will still be talking about his performance, and he has zero competition. None.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Mo’Nique, Precious.
Her record this year mirrors Waltz's, and people really like seeing her win. Also like Waltz, she actually deserves her win. There really is no reason for her to lose.

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY: The Hurt Locker.
Because it won the WGA, which Tarantino’s film wasn't eligible for. The match-up between the WGA and the screenplay victors at the Oscars is very good.

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Up in the Air.
It’s won all of the precursor awards needed to make it an easy lock.

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM: Up.
One of the easiest categories of the night to call.

ART DIRECTION – SET DECORATION: Avatar.
Because winning the Art Directors Guild, the BAFTA and the Critics Choice awards really help.

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Avatar.
Really tough to call, but I think Cameron’s sci-fi epic will end up with it.

COSTUME DESIGN: The Young Victoria.
Given its prior wins in other precursor awards, it should win this quite handily.

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE: The Cove.
It's won way too many awards to lose at this stage in the game.

DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT: China’s Unnatural Disaster: Tears of the Sichuan Province.
This is just an educated guess, but I would think the recent events in Haiti (and now Chile) would make this an incredibly timely, pertinent choice.

FILM EDITING: The Hurt Locker.
The big winner at the American Cinema Editors awards, and the Best Picture frontrunner typically takes home Film Editing as an early indicator of things to come.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM: The Secret in Their Eyes.
It has an overwhelming amount of positive buzz in its favor, enough to pull a last-minute upset over early favorites The White Ribbon and A Prophet.

MAKEUP: Star Trek.
With District 9 out of the picture, J.J. Abram’s reboot of the sci-fi franchise should stand a good chance of winning at least one award now.

MUSIC SCORE: Up.
It’s won every award it could, and the competition is pretty weak.

ORIGINAL SONG: “The Weary Kind”, Crazy Heart.
It's been the frontrunner to win for sometime now, it's got Critics Choice and Golden Globe awards to its credit, and it's a movie where music is at the centerpiece. That can only help.

SHORT FILM – Animated: A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Because it’s Wallace & Gromit, and they have a good relationship with the Academy Awards.

SHORT FILM – Live Action: Kavi.
Just a guess, but the subject matter (child labor) seems likely to leave a powerful, lasting impression.

SOUND MIXING: Avatar.
Seems like the most obvious choice, as sound is always a major factor when it comes to fantasy films that incorporate a lot of animal noises and gun use.

SOUND EDITING: Avatar.
Again, lots of guns and machines. Those always help with Sound Editing hopefuls.

VISUAL EFFECTS: Avatar.
No way Avatar is losing this one.

The Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 7th on ABC at 8:30.

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