“The Blind Side” nominated for best picture
Some surprises when the nominees for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards were announced in Beverly Hills today. It was pretty much a given that sci-fi epic “Avatar” and the gritty Iraq drama “The Hurt Locker” would be in the best picture category. However, eight other films made the cut as well including the provocative sci-fi thriller, “District 9,” and that heartwarming football drama, “The Blind Side.” Both surprises and good examples of the kind of variety in the best picture category we like to see.
The other best picture nominees are the animated comedy, “Up,” the Nazi drama “Inglourious Basterds,” the British coming of age drama, “An Education,” the dark comedy, “A Serious Man,” the teenage mother drama “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” and the comedy/drama, “Up in the Air.”
Already there is controversy and competition underway for the best director and best picture Oscars. Kathryn Bigelow scooped up the best feature film director award from the DGA a few days ago and a number of other accolades, while James Cameron’s “Avatar” has been breaking all kinds of records at the Box Office and making a ton of money. Cameron and Bigelow were once married to each other. That adds an interesting twist to the Oscar race.
Also, Nikki Finke is reporting over on her Deadline.com Hollywood site about the behind-the-scenes drama over producer credits on some of the nominated films. In the past, the jockeying for the chance to be on stage to pick up a best picture Oscar has turned ugly and in at least one case, ended up in court.
Here are the nominees in the other top categories:
For best director: James Cameron “Avatar,” Kathryn Bigelow “The Hurt Locker,” Quentin Tarantino “Inglourious Basterds,” Lee Daniels “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” and Jason Reitman for “Up in the Air.”
For best actresses the Academy voters selected Sandra Bullock for “The Blind Side,” Helen Mirren “The Last Station,” Carey Mulligan for “An Education” Gabourey Sidibe for “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” and Meryl Streep for “Julie & Julia.”
Best actor nominees: Jeff Bridges “Crazy Heart,” Colin Firth “A Single Man,” George Clooney “Up in the Air,” Jeremy Renner “The Hurt Locker,” and Morgan Freeman for “Invictus.”
Best supporting actor: Matt Damon “Invictus,” Woody Harrelson “The Messenger,” Christopher Plummer “The Last Station,” Stanley Tucci “The Lovely Bones,” and Christoph Waltz “Inglourious Basterds.”
Best supporting actress: Penélope Cruz “Nine,” Vera Farmiga “Up in the Air,” Maggie Gyllenhaal “Crazy Heart,” Anna Kendrick “Up in the Air,” and Mo’Nique “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire.”
Best adapted screenplay: “District 9″ Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell, “An Education” Nick Hornby, “In the Loop” Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche, “Precious: Based on The Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” Geoffrey Fletcher, “Up in the Air” Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.
Best original screenplay: “The Hurt Locker” Mark Boal, “Inglourious Basterds” Quentin Tarantino, “The Messenger” Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman, “A Serious Man” Joel and Ethan Coen, “Up” Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, and Tom McCarthy.
For a complete list of the nominees click here.
The 82nd Annual Academy Awards ceremony will be Sunday, March 7, 2010 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.
