The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced early Tuesday morning the nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards. Which include some changes that may throw a wrench into the proceedings.
Academy President Tom Sherak and previous nominee Anne Hathaway read off the list of lucky films that will get a crack at Hollywood's favorite prize - the Oscar.
Perhaps to keep up with the increased popularity of the show since last year, when Hugh Jackman hosted one of the most entertaining ceremonies in the history of the little golden statue, the Academy has thrown in a few mix ups that will - at the very least - provide some change.
Two hosts will take the stage next month for the first time since the twenties. The production team has constructed an elaborate animatronics set for promises to be a very unique presentation of the awards.
Of course, the biggest change is upping the nominations for the coveted Best Picture Oscar from five to 10 for the first time since "Casablanca" took the award in 1943. This change has many in Hollywood questioning how fair the race will be. Now a simple majority might not be enough to vote a film into the winning category.
Kathryn Bigelow's gripping "The Hurt Locker" and James Cameron's visually revolutionary "Avatar" have both been favorites to win (taking Best Picture from the Producer's Guild and the Golden Globes, respectively) and they lead the race this year with nine nominations each.
The once married couple will be pitting one of the least expensive contestants against one of the biggest budget films of all time. "Avatar" has already made the win with the general public, grossing over $1.8 billion world wide.
"Inglourious Basterds," "Precious," and "Up in the Air" aren't unexpected nominations in the Best Picture slot. Pixar's "Up" is the second animated feature to ever be nominated for Best Picture ("Beauty and the Beast" was the first). "Up" also has a nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Limited release pictures "An Education" and "A Serious Man" both made the cut. Even "District 9" (making that two sci-fi movies in the running this year - rare for the Academy, which usually favors realist drama) is getting a chance.
The strangest nod goes to "The Blind Side," a box office success with an excellent performance by Sandra Bullock (who will most likely take Best Actress), but not a great a film. Clint Eastwood's "Invictus" is surprisingly absent.
The Academy does not release the number of votes, but it's probable that the top five for Best Picture correspond directly with the five nominations in the Best Achievement in Directing category.
In acting the predictions seem easy enough. Jeff Bridges' performance as an alcoholic country singer in "Crazy Heart" will take Best Actor. Christoph Waltz's crazed Nazi in "Basterds" has taken the Supporting Role award everywhere else. I see no reason why that would change here. The favorite for Supporting Actress in other awards has been Mo'Nique of "Precious," though Vera Farmiga's deceptive role in "Up in the Air," is also deserving.
Miyazaki's "Ponyo" was omitted from the animation nods. Disney is in again with "The Princess and the Frog." "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was an excellent film and with "Up" in the run for Best Picture there's no telling who will take home the Animation Oscar.
Up for the Original Screenplay are greats like the Coen brothers and Quentin Tarantino. "Up's" Bob Peterson and Pete Docter as well. All are worthy contestants. If Tarantino doesn't take it, it will be Mark Boal for "The Hurt Locker."
For Adapted Screenplay, favor seems to be with Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for "Up in the Air."
In both visual effects and editing there is no real contest against "Avatar." However, cinematography boasts a stiffer competition, but will probably still go to "Avatar."
The increased number of nods will bring an interesting edge, but in the end it feels more like a publicity stunt. Although it allows for more to make the nominations (Is this a way to make up for not giving "The Dark Knight" a nod last year?) the revised vote-tallying system could skew the final result.
With five nominations, voters were asked to select a single film for the top spot. Now, with the 10 count system voters will rank the films according to preference. This means if the No. 1 title doesn't garner 51 percent of the votes the second choice will be used, and so on. So, second or third choice could end up taking Best Picture while still not getting the most No. 1 votes.
The Ceremony will take place on March 7 in the Kodak Pavilion on Hollywood Boulevard. Co-hosted by Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.
Complete List of Nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards:
Actress in a supporting role Mo'Nique in Precious Vera Farmiga in Up in the Air Penélope Cruz in Nine Anna Kendrick in Up in the Air Maggie Gyllenhaal in Crazy Heart
Actor in a supporting role Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds Christopher Plummer in The Last Station Matt Damon in Invictus Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones Woody Harrelson in The Messenger
Actress in a leading role Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side Helen Mirren in The Last Station Gabourey Sidibe in Precious Carey Mulligan in An Education
Actor in a leading role Morgan Freeman in Invictus Jeff Bridges in Crazy Heart George Clooney in Up in the Air Colin Firth in A Single Man Jeremy Renner in The Hurt Locker
Animated feature film Up (Pete Docter and Bob Peterson) The Princess and the Frog (Ron Clements and John Musker) Coraline (Henry Selick) Fantastic Mr Fox (Wes Anderson) The Secret of Kells (Tomm Moore)
Foreign language film Ajami (Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani, Israel) A Prophet (Jacques Audiard, France) The Secret of Her Eyes (Juan Jose Campanella, Argentina) The White Ribbon (Michael Haneke, Germany) The Milk of Sorrow (Claudia Llosa, Peru)
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