Our 2010 Oscar Best Picture Nominees Predictions

Our 2010 Oscar Best Picture Nominees Predictions
The 2010 Oscar Nominees get announced tomorrow morning, so today’s our last chance to underestimate Hollywood with our 10 Best Picture Nominee Predictions. Will the Academy end up just doubling the list from 5 epic dramas to 10 epic dramas, or will the extra 5 options loosen people up to select movies from non-traditional genres? Here, [...]

The 2010 Oscar Nominees get announced tomorrow morning, so today’s our last chance to underestimate Hollywood with our 10 Best Picture Nominee Predictions. Will the Academy end up just doubling the list from 5 epic dramas to 10 epic dramas, or will the extra 5 options loosen people up to select movies from non-traditional genres?

Here, in order of my confidence they’ll be selected (and in no way reflective of my own thoughts on the movies), are my predictions for the 10 Oscar Best Picture Nominees for 2010:

1. Avatar
2. Up In The Air
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Precious
5. Inglourious Basterds
6. An Education
7. Crazy Heart
8. A Serious Man
9. Invictus
10. Nine

Invictus and Nine were both semi-flops, but history tells us that the Academy is far more likely to lazily vote for epic stuff that came out late in the year versus wasting time thinking about more creative (“actually good”) options. In a sane world, Up would be a no-brainer, but I could foresee it splitting votes with Fantastic Mr. Fox from whichever voters begrudgingly acknowledge that animated films are actual films.

Because the 10 Nominees thing is so unprecedented, though, we don’t yet know if the voters will loosen up genre-wise, foregoing so-so epic dramas in favor of highly successful action/sci-fi/comedy movies. I wouldn’t be totally surprised to see the incredibly well-reviewed District 9 or Star Trek sneak in there; some people are even mentioning The Hangover too, but that ain’t happening, we’ll go baby steps with Hollywood’s thoughts towards non-dramas here. Until the Academy gives me reason to believe otherwise, though, I’m keeping my list to mostly epic, issue-ey dramas and pictures with invincible studio momentum behind them. But I’d be very happy to be wrong.

After the jump, my personal list:

In order of nothing more than my personal enjoyment:

1. Inglourious Basterds
2. Up
3. The Hurt Locker
4. Big Fan
5. District 9
6. In The Loop
7. Anvil! The Story Of Anvil
8. Adventureland (did everyone forget this came out in 2009?)
9. World’s Greatest Dad
10. Up In The Air
(11. Watchmen)

I’ll also go ahead and predict that despite its semi low-profile release, Hurt Locker will take Best Picture, based partially on Hollywood’s ongoing willingness to let everyone know that they’re aware of issues, and partially on its undeniable awesomeness. I wouldn’t be completely shocked if Avatar just momentumed its way to victory, but I think it’ll sweep the non Picture/Acting categories and be content with 6 or 7 Oscar wins.

Your turn — 10 Oscar Nominee Predictions? Leave ‘em in the comments.

Source: www.bestweekever.tv