2010 Oscar Nominations Revealed; Avatar, the Hurt Locker Lead with 9 Each

The 2010 Oscar nominations were revealed this morning via an official announcement from outside the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Devil Wears Prada actress Anne Hathaway teamed up with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak to read the official list, which features a pack-leading 9 Oscar nominations each for Avatar and The Hurt Locker.

The 2010 Best Picture Oscar category was expanded to include 10 different films instead of the usual five. Included in the prestigious group are the animated hit Up, the Sandra Bullock-anchored sleeper mega-hit The Blind Side, war drama The Hurt Locker, and James Cameron's evocative alien film Avatar. Avatar took the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Dramatic Picture, and is likely the likely favorite to take the Academy Award as well, despite stiff competition within the category. Rounding out the group of 10 2010 Oscar nominations for Best Picture are District 9, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man and Up in the Air.

Primed for a showdown on the 2010 Oscar nomination list are 2010 Best Actress nominees Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) and Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia). Each woman has already won a 2010 Golden Globe for her work, and barring a major upset, will likely go head to head for the Academy Award. The edge may go to Bullock, as the Academy rarely chooses comedy over drama, but Streep's long-term star power may propel her toward the statue. The other ladies receiving Oscar nominations include Helen Mirren (The Last Station), Carey Mulligan (An Education) and Gabourey Sidibe (Precious).

The 52nd Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, March 7, 2010 and will be co-helmed by actor Steve Martin, who has had the job twice previously, and hosting newcomer Alec Baldwin.

An abbreviated list of 2010 Oscar Nominations is as follows; find a complete list by visiting the official website of the Academy Awards.

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Director
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo'nique, Precious

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Animated Feature Film
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Original Screenplay
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

2010 Oscar Nominations: Best Adapted Screenplay
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air

Sources:

Official Website of the Golden Globes

2010 Oscar Nominee List, Official Website of the Academy Awards