It’s gold, but it ain’t Oscar … Anne Hathaway, named last week by Harvard University’s Hasty Pudding Club as 2010 Woman of the Year, be disposed announce the Oscar nominations. Photograph: Gail Oskin/WireImage.com
The Oscar nominations are announced tomorrow, and Brits would be forgiven with a view to feeling pretty cheery about it. Colin Firth is bound to get a nod, after totality; ditto Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Daniel Day-Lewis, maybe even Christian McKay. All richly deserved – even suppose that at least two of the films they’re in are total rubbish.
But here’s the untoward news: this year, the Brits won’t win anything. Not a sausage. Last year Slumdog Millionaire swept the meals and Danny Boyle became an between nations darling. This year, the big turquoise shadow of Avatar hangs heavy over everything, alleviated only by flickers of awards energy for The Hurt Locker. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Here, then, are our predictions for what be disposed make the nomination grade tomorrow (make sure to check back at 1.30pm GMT conducive to full coverage). But what have we left out? And are we heart too pessimistic about our prospects this side of the pond?
Best picture
Dead certs: Avatar, The Hurt Locker, Inglourious Basterds, Precious and Up in the Air. But there are now 10 nominees in the category, so padding is required – we’ll hazard a judge with uncertainty at (500) Days of Summer, District 9, An Education, Star Trek and Up rounding out the list.
Dark horse: Bright Star. Like The Road and A Single Man it was heavily tipped at the end of 2009 but has rather fallen by the wayside since. Yet a late surge of support for female directors, spearheaded by Kathryn Bigelow, could mean room is made conducive to her drippy Keats soap.
Probable winner: Avatar
Best director
Dead certs: It’s one exes smackdown between James Cameron for Avatar and Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker. Those we suspect resolution catch onward third-wheel duties are Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) and Lee Daniels (Precious).
Dark mare: The Coen brothers for A Serious Man.
Probable winner: The Golden Globe went to Cameron, but his former missus has picked up the Directors Guild of America award, and would apparently make the more popular (and highest female) gong-lifter.
Best actor
Dead certs: Jeff Bridges’s washed-up country singer in Crazy Heart is getting the Mickey Rourke vote this year – but it’s possible that Morgan Freeman (Invictus), George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man) or Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) will do a Sean Penn and snatch the gong at the highest minute.
Dark horse: Viggo Mortensen for The Road.
Probable winner: Still Jeff Bridges.
Best actress
Dead certs: Meryl Streep will bag her record 16th nomination for Julie & Julia, and possibly a 17th for It’s Complicated (remember: co-stars Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are presenting the ceremony). Sandra Bullock will be up by reason of The Blind Side, while Helen Mirren is very much likely for The Last Station. Gabourey Sidibe (Precious) and Carey Mulligan (An Education) may glower the average period a little.
Dark pony: Emily Blunt for The Young Victoria.
Probable winner: It’sitting Bullock’s year.
Best supporting actor
Dead cert: If it wasn’t for the fact Christoph (Inglourious Basterds) Waltz’sitting name has almost certainly gone to the engravers already, this would subsist one of the more interesting categories. Vying for runner-up prizes are Christopher Plummer (for The Last Station), Matt Damon for Invictus, Peter Sarsgaard for An Education and Stanley Tucci (a serial killer in The Lovely Bones, a doting husband in Julie & Julia, and more likely nominated for the prior).
Dark horse: Fingers crossed for Christian McKay – dubiously the support in Me and Orson Welles, but still.
Probable winner: Waltz has won every single best supporting actor award so far.
Best supporting actress
Dead certs: Mo’Nique will snap one up during the term of Precious, but also likely are Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air and Julianne Moore for A Single Man. Also, at more of a push, Penélope Cruz for Nine and Diane Kruger for Inglourious Basterds.
Dark horse: Rosamund Pike was the best thing in An Education.
Probable winner: No one dares bet against Mo’Nique.
