Fantasies

Fantasies I have for tomorrow:

Best Picture love for interesting movies:

I'd be happy if any of the following make the cut; A SERIOUS MAN, THE WHITE RIBBON, (500 Days) of SUMMER.

Don't nominate Invictus just because it was "supposed" to be great. It's OK to ignore this year's Eastwood contender. He'll be back with 6 more next year.

I want Inglorious Basterds to wind up the most-nominated film of the year. To do so, it's going to need some unexpected attention (Pitt, Laurent and Kruger deserve kudos in addition to Waltz).

Please SHOWER The Fantastic Mr. Fox with praise anywhere and everywhere. Surprise Director nom? Richly deserving score, script. Somehow, it feels like Art Direction would be valid for this particular animated film, as silly as that sounds.

Stop hating Nine. Whatever you wanna say about the movie, it's technically beautiful. Would be a shame to ignore the cinematography, costume design and even those new crappy songs.

Career Achievement Award for Patricia Clarkson would be just lovely.

Final Oscar Predictions

This is not every category, but who the fuck care about Sound Effects Editing and Make-up?

Best Picture

AVATAR

THE BLIND SIDE

DISTRICT NINE

AN EDUCATION

THE HURT LOCKER

INGLORIOUS BASTERDS

PRECIOUS

A SERIOUS MAN

UP

UP IN THE AIR

(It is also very possible they will nominate Ghost, Places in the Heart and my sister's Bat Mitzvah videotape. Ten nominees is stupid).

Best Actress

Emily Blunt in The Young Victoria

Helen Mirren in The Last Station

Carey Mulligan in An Education

Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Meryl Streep in Julie and Julie

(Going out on a limb suggesting a Gabourey Sidibe snub.)

Best Actor

Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart

George Clooney in Up in the Air

Colin Firth in A Single Man

Morgan Freeman in Invictus

Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker

Best Supporting Actress

Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air

Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air

Melanie Laurent in Inglorious Basterds

Julianne Moore in A Single Man

Monique in Precious

(Hopeful Laurent and/or Diane Kruger make it in. Penelope Cruz and Samantha Morton each would like to receive their 3rd nom this year.

Best Supporting Actor

Woody Harrelson in The Messenger

Christian McKay in Me and Orson Welles

Anthony Mackie in The Hurt Locker

Stanley Tucci in Julie and Julia

Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds

(REALLY - WHO CARES? This is a one-man race)

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

James Cameron - Avatar

Michael Haneke - The White Ribbon

Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino -Inglorious Basterds

(again, I'm suggesting a Precious backlash)

Best Original Screenplay

(500) Days of Summer

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Up

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9

An Education

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Precious

Up in the Air

Best Cinematography

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Nine

The White Ribbon

Best Film Editing

Avatar

The Hurt Locker

Inglorious Basterds

Star Trek

Up in the Air

Best Original Score

Avatar

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Informant

Star Trek

Up

Best Art Direction

Avatar

District 9

Inglorious Basterds

Sherlock Holmes

A Single Man

Best Costume Design

An Education

Inglorious Basterds

Nine

Sherlock Holmes

The Young Victoria