2010 Oscar Picks Predicts Which Stars Will Bring Home the Coveted Award

The 2010 Oscars are finally here. The 82^nd Oscars will be telecast Sunday, March 7^th on ABC. Here is my look at four of the top categories and my picks for whom, in each of these categories, will take home an Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress

The nominees in this category are Penelope Cruz, "Nine"; Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air"; Maggie Gyllenhall, "Crazy Heart"; Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air";and Mo'Nique, "Precious". While I love both Cruz and Gyllenhall, the definite favorite to win best supporting actress is Mo'Nique. Her performance as an abusive mother in the movie "Precious" is frightening and fierce to say the least. She has created a character that is sure to be one of the most memorable villains in film history and for this Mo'Nique is sure to be justly rewarded with an Oscar.

Best Supporting Actor

The nominees include: Matt Damon, "Invictus"; Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"; Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station; Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"; and Christoph Waltz, "Inglorious Bastards". There has been a lot of buzz about Tucci winning for his performance as the grisly murderer in "The Lovely Bones," but personally I would vote hands down for Waltz. His performance in Tarentino's "Inglorious Bastards" was masterful, definitely one of my favorite performances (and movies) of the year.

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"; Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"; Carey Mulligan, "An Education"; Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious"; and Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia". This is one category where I am going to disagree with many of the Oscar predictors who are saying that Sandra Bullock will win for "The Blind Side." While Bullock's performance in "Blind Side" may be her best ever, it doesn't match the performance of many of the others. Streep dazzled as famous chef, Julia Childs, in one of my favorite movies of the year, but Streep has won the Oscar many times before so I don't see her winning this year. Sidibe gave a phenomenal break out performance, but with Mo'Nique a shoe in for the Best Supporting Oscar, my money is on Mulligan, who has been heralded for her fresh portrayal of a precocious London School Girl in the movie, "An Education." I would really like to see the talented 24-four-year-old win.

Best Actor
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy heart"; George Clooney, "Up in the Air"; Colin Firth, "A Single Man"; Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"; and Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker". Critics are predicting that Jeff Bridges wins best actor for his gritty portrayal of an alcoholic country singer and while personally I love Clooney and enjoy watching him in anything he does. I haven't yet seen "Up in the Air" and the reviews I have read have been mixed. Renner was really good in "Inglorious Bastards", but I am going to go with the critics choice on this one. Bridges is a fine actor, and his performance in "Crazy Heart" is said to be one of his best to date.

These are my Oscar picks. I can't wait to tune in to ABC on Sunday night to see how many Oscar picks come true.

Sources:
www.rottentomatoes.com
www.timesonline.com