The Oscar Nods Are Here!

Image from last year's Oscars poster; (c) ABC & AMPAS

The list of nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards has been announced!  And to be honest, I am very excited about this list.  I’m probably more excited about the Oscars than any other awards ceremony of the season;  I think the recent Grammys, say, were a bit of a disappointment.

In any case, to what I presume would be no one’s surprise, James Cameron does it again with a buttload of nods for Avatar (9 in total) -- although it’s questionable how many of those he will actually take home.  There’s a lot of stiff competition from awesome films like Inglourious Basterds and Precious.
Click the jump to check out the nods for the big awards, and the horses I’m backing for each.

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
 
I’m rooting for either George Clooney, Colin Firth, or Morgan Freeman in this one.  They all did great jobs … plus I just adore Colin Firth anyway.  ahaha.  ;-)

Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon - Invictus
Woody Harrelson - The Messenger
Christopher Plummer - The Last Station
Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

This one, I’d like to go to Stanley Tucci (LOVE HIM), or Christoph Waltz.

Best Actress
Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Helen Mirren - The Last Station
Carey Mulligan - An Education
Gabourey Sidibe - Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
Meryl Streep - Julie & Julia
 
Loved Meryl’s performance in Julie & Julia, but I am seriously going to be disappointed if this one does not go to Gabourey Sidibe.  She was AWESOME.

Best Supporting Actress
Penélope Cruz - Nine
Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air
Mo’Nique - Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire

Gotta go with Mo’Nique on this one, without question.  Again, I will be screaming and swearing if she does not win.  ahaha.  ;-)

Best Director
James Cameron - Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds 
Lee Daniels - Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire 
Jason Reitman - Up in the Air
 
I would prefer to see Quentin Tarantino or Lee Daniels win, but I have a hunch that James Cameron will be taking this one home.

Best Picture
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air
 
On this one, I'm going for either Precious, Avatar, or Inglourious Basterds.

What are your picks?  And how do you feel about the choices for the nods?  Please leave a comment and weigh in!