2010 Oscar Predictions Show Who Is In The Running and Who Is Left Behind

This Sunday, March 5^th, 2010, the Oscars return and promise (like every year) many surprises for its audiences. Though that is usually not the case, perhaps this year, with unexpected nominations within every category from Best Picture to Best Actress, the Academy can cash in on such a promise.

Best Director Nominees: Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron, Lee Daniels, Jason Reitman, Quentin Tarantino

Kathryn Bigelow (Winner):

Kathryn's only the fourth woman ever to be nominated for Best Director (only the second American woman to garner the accolade), but this Sunday may be her day indeed. In The Hurt Locker, she manages to create an intense experience that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. Though some may argue it's an inaccurate portrayal of bomb squads in Iraq, no one can argue that it's an extraordinary film.

Quentin Tarantino (Runner-Up):

Tarantino is obviously in love with film, and his commitment to the art form is as potent as ever in Inglourious Basterds.

James Cameron:

Though Avatar is an immense experience visually, it lacks impressive performances from its actors and a creative script for the actors to work with.

Lee Daniels:

Beautifully directed with an impressive (and surprising) cast, Precious, has all the passion a film could need. Daniels would definitely receive the Oscar if not for the momentum Bigelow and Tarantino have built up.

Jason Reitman:

Reitman's Up in the Air had an incredible amount of momentum a few months ago, but it seems as if it has died down tremendously. However, the performances in Up in the Air, along with the witty script make its only flaw being nominated with the other talents in this category.

Best Actor Nominees: Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner.

Jeff Bridges (Winner):

At this point, Bridges is on a roll, making the Oscar almost surely his. Coupled with the fact that he's overdue for the award, and that his role as Bad Blake in 2009's Crazy Heart is a very capable performance from a very capable actor, it seems he's going to be taking home gold on Sunday night.

Colin Firth (Runner-Up):

In Tom Ford's directorial debut, A Single Man, Colin Firth shows that he knows exactly what it's like to lose a loved one, emitting a sense of unfulfilled passion as his day comes to an end.

George Clooney:

The front-runner for this award just months ago, Clooney's role as the nearly misanthropic Ryan Bingham in Up in the Air showed audiences that everyone's significant someone is out there-it's all about where you'll be.

Morgan Freeman:

Though Freeman's role as Nelson Mandela in Invictus is nearly perfect, the actor simply is outshined by his opponents this year.

Jeremy Renner:

As the lead in Bigelow's The Hurt Locker, Renner works with what he has, but unfortunately, what he gives simply doesn't seem to be enough. Though it's a good performance, that's where the adjectives stop.

Best Actress Nominees: Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, Meryl Streep

Sandra Bullock (Winner):

Like Jeff Brides, at this point, Sandra Bullock has too much momentum not to win the Oscar. Though some may laugh at her nomination (and perhaps subsequent win), very few will disagree that Sandra's turn in The Blind Side held the film together.

Carey Mulligan (Runner-Up):

In An Education, Carey Mulligan paints a portrait of the young woman so many have come to know. In the film, her uncertainties about life's value (or what to value in life) are ones most people can relate to.

Helen Mirren:

Though Mirren's performance in The Last Station is an impressive one for sure, the lack of viewers and momentum of other nominees is what bars 2006's Best Actress Oscar winner from another statue.

Gabourey Sidibe:

The titular hero of Lee Daniel's Precious, Sidibe gives the audience passion rarely seen in film. Though the performance is a major underdog in this year's Oscar race, the case can easily be made for Gabourey's portrayal of Claireece "Precious" Jones.

Meryl Streep:

Garnering her 16^th Oscar nomination, Streep's performance as Julia Child in Julia & Julia suffers from a lack of passionate filmmaking anywhere outside the scope of Streep's role.

Best Supporting Actor Nominees: Matt Damon, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci, Christoph Waltz

Cristoph Waltz (Winner):

This one is obviously a done deal at this point. Waltz' portray of Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds has been a favorite since his victory at last year's Cannes Film Festival. Pitch-perfect, Waltz puts the audience into the mind of 1.) a passionate, loyal German or 2.) a true psychopath; it's hard to tell in most cases.

Woody Harrelson (Runner-Up):

Though not a very widely scene performance, Harrelson's role as Capt. Tony Stone or, as some may put it, the Bearer of Bad News during wartime, in The Messenger is as emotional as it gets.

Matt Damon:

Though Damon is a superstar, he is underestimated and underrated as a dramatic actor. In Eastwood's Invictus, Damon proves himself as rugby player François Pienaar. Damon solely suffers from more potent performances from his fellow nominees.

Christopher Plummer:

The Last Station, in general, suffered from a lack of an audience compared to most other nominated films this year. The Messenger suffered the same fate however, proving that it's not the commerce aspect of it, but how memorable a performance can be. Though Plummer is more than a sufficient actor, compared to his colleagues, his performance dwindles.

Stanley Tucci:

In The Lovely Bones, Tucci's character emits creepiness as best as it can be conveyed. It's so unfortunate that the film around him lacks anything lovely about it.

Best Supporting Actress Nominees: Penélope Cruz, Vera Farmiga, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Anna Kendrick, Mo'Nique

Mo'Nique (Winner):

Like Heath Ledger last year, Mo'Nique has garnered nearly every acting award she has been nominated for this year, and one can expect the same for the Oscar. As Precious' mother in Lee Daniel's film, Mo'Nique has proven that, under the right direction, she can convey any emotions from pure anger to vivid desperation.

Anna Kendrick (Runner-Up):

As the quirky sidekick to Clooney's character in Up in the Air, Kendrick manages to steal the show in some parts of the film. Smart, bold, yet kid-like in some instances, Kendrick produces a memorable performance for the masses.

Penélope Cruz:

Cruz, as Carla Albanese in this year's Nine suffers from a lackluster film. Her performance simply stands out amongst the efforts of her seemingly less talented counterparts (sorry Day-Lewis).

Vera Farmiga:

To a certain extent, the antithesis to Clooney's way of life in Up in the Air, Farmiga attempts to show him the meaning of love and life. It's a shame that Varmiga is given no real drive to give a remarkable performance.

Maggie Gyllenhaal:

In Crazy Heart, Gyllenhaal's character falls in love with Jeff Bridges, adding an interesting aspect to what could have gone off so wrong due to cliché-ridden nature of the story. Though Bridges' performance stands out amongst his colleagues, Gyllenhaal's attempt to take home the gold is a bit too somber.