10 Best Film Potentials for the 2010 Oscar Awards

Winning an Oscar nomination for this year's 82nd annual Academy Awards may be a bit easier. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made an announcement that the number of nominations will be doubled, from 5 to 10. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will co-host the gala affair on Sunday, March 7, from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

Another new change: any kind of film-- drama, comedy, documentary, or cartoon, can capture and walk away with the beautiful golden statue. From 1931-1943, Old Hollywood had 8-12 movies vying head on for the number one honor, Best Picture. A nomination for Best Picture can promote and sell a movie. Winning the coveted award, like "Casablanca" in 1943, can seal a movie's fate. Several excellent cinematic presentations are vying for that number one spot. Still, many film contenders have yet to be seen, as release dates are scheduled for December. With that in mind, movies can appear to come out of nowhere, like "Slumdog Millionaire," and end up in the spotlight as front runners. Although there are many great flicks out there, here is a look at my ten choices, (and it was tough), for Best Picture.

"Precious" (Lionsgate)
Recently released, this critically acclaimed urban drama is a Sundance, Toronto, and New York Film Festival sensation. Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey are at the helm as executive producers. Geoffy Fletcher wrote the script, based on the novel 'Push,' written by Sapphire. Directed by Lee Daniels, it stars Mariah Carey, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton, Sheri Shepherd, and Gabourney Sidibe, as Precious. Singer/songwriter Mary J. Blige provides her moving soundtrack, "I Can See In Color." A sad tale about an abused teenager, its strong reviews and popular support make it a great choice for the Oscar nod.

"Up" (Pixar)
Named the number one animated movie of the year, "Up" is Pixar's 10th straight masterpiece and 10th straight box office hit. The animated comedy adventure is about a grumpy old man who ties balloons to his house and flies away to South America with an 8 year old stowaway. Featuring the voices of Ed Asner and Christopher Plummer, it is the first animated film to open Cannes Film Festival. With ten spots now, it could be a sure bet for an Oscar nomination.

"Nine" (The Weinstein Company)
This musical flick, directed by Rob Marshall, ("Chicago"), has an all-star cast of Oscar heavyweights: Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and Kate Hudson. Base on Fellini's "81/2, " the main character struggles to find harmony in his relationships with his wife, his mistress, his muse, his agent and his mother. Better add this pic to Oscar's list.

"An Education" (Sony Picture Classics)
Novelist and screenwriter Nick Hornby won the Audience Award at Sundance for his screenplay that takes place in the early 1960's and his story of a teenage girl, (Carey Mulligan), who falls under the influence of an older gentleman, (Peter Sarsgaard). Comparisons to Audrey Hepburn and lots of praise is given to Mulligan and her performance. Alfred Molina is great as her father. Three strong performances makes this flick a solid choice for the gold statue.

"The Hurt Locker" (Summit)
This pic got some of the best film reviews this year. Newcomer Jeremy Renner heads the cast of this intense war drama. Kathryn Bigelow directs a story inspired by the heroics of a real-life bomb squad in Iraq. Evangeline Lilly ("Lost") co-stars. This is a definite Oscar contender.

"Avatar" (20th Century Fox)
"King of the World" James Cameron brings us his first Oscar-worthy flick since mega hit "Titanic," which won an Academy Award for Best Movie in 1997. He revolutionizes film making with this sci-fi epic. Aussie actor Sam Worthington plays a Marine 200 years in the future who is altered in form, then sent to a planet. Sigourney Weaver, who earned her first Oscar nod with Cameron in "Aliens," plays Worthington's mentor. Could be in the running for the top spot.

"Amelia" (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
It's too soon to decide yet, but the buzz is out there and expectations are high that this is going to be a good movie. Hilary Swank, ("Boys Don't Cry," "Million Dollar Baby), nails her portrayal of the well-known aviator who disappeared mysteriously in 1937 while flying around the world. Swank has the look and her accent is right-on. Richard Gere plays her promoter-turned-hubby, Ewan Mc Gregor, her lover. Mira Nair, ("Salaam Bombay), directs. Oscar-winner Ronald Bass, ("Rain Man"), writes the script. "Amelia" could fly right in as Best Picture.

"Star Trek" (Paramount Pictures)
This is another sci-fi hopeful, directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. It's the 11th film of the Star Trek franchise. Chris Pine plays Captain James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto, Spock. The crew boards the USS Enterprise and unites to defeat Nero, a Romulan who tries to threaten the United Federation of Planets. Well-liked by moviegoers and critics, this has a good chance of winning the coveted title.

"District 9" (TriStar Pictures)
Shot on location in Soweto, South Africa, this sci-fi pic is inspired by actual events that took place in District 6 in Cape Town during the apartheid era. Directed by Neill Blomkamp, it stars Sharlto Copley as Wikus van de Merwe, whose job it is to relocate a race of extraterrestrial beings from a refugee camp in Johannesburg to a new city. Although it's a late summer sleeper, it was a big smash at it's Academy screening. District 9 is a dark horse with substantial critical acclaim and fan support. You have to count this one in for Oscar's nod.

"Invictus" (Warner Brothers)
You know you have a potential winner with Clint Eastwood directing. And, Morgan Freeman serves as the executive producer and star of this inspiring biopic political drama based on Nelson Mandela's life during the Rugby World Cup in 1995. Matt Damon is great as Francois Pienaar, the South African team captain. Newly elected president of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, (Freeman), joins forces with the captain of the rugby team in an effort to unite the country. South Africa is still racially divided and economically challenged in the throws of apartheid. Mandela uses the universal language of sports to rally the team and win the 1995 World Cup Championship match. Inspiring! It goes on the Oscar list.

Magnificent movies with inspiring performances. That is what the Academy Awards are all about. Movies that can entertain you, educate you, even make you cry. They shape our lives; they change our world. Oscar will soon crown the film with the best performance. A movie that will go down in Hollywood history. See you at the Oscars!