And the award goes to...

More nominees, more hosts, more schmaltz!

In 2010, we will see the first major change in the Academy Awards structure in… who knows how long… since the ‘30s? (Well… they did add a Best Animated Feature category in 1999, which was a rather major addition) The Best Picture category has been expanded to 10 nominees. While that allows the Academy to acknowledge 5 more movies than usual, it does nothing to change the race, as the 5 added have no chance of winning anyway (Up, A Serious Man, District 9, Precious, The Blind Side). It will be very interesting to see if Avatar wins Best Pic. Avatar's story is universally denounced as hot stinky garbage, and it would be awarded strictly for its ambitious technical scope and visuals. But there is already a category for that. It would be a shame and a new low for the Academy to award Avatar Best Pic, especially when a movie with actual, excellent writing and real and brave performances, like “An Education” or “The Hurt Locker” is sitting right there on the bench! But Cameron and his Universal Over-Ego won’t let that happen. He’s saved all of the costumes from his previous movies in a giant warehouse and, as I type this, he is suiting up a cattle-call of out of work actors to take to the streets of LaLaLand and systematically scare and intimidate voters. Be wary, voters, if Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio knocks on your door during dinner hour. Don’t let her in, because you never know who’s in there.

Despite the battle brewing for Best Picture, my gaze is fixed squarely on the Best Actor category. Jeff Bridges is as royal as Hollywood Royalty comes. He has the respect, the epitome, the family pedigree, he’s had lead turns in a slew of indies as well as blockbusters, including arguably one of the biggest cult classics of all time (resulting in elite cache with the entirety of Gen X and Y males). He’s been the President, an alien, a psychiatrist, a mad genius villian, a twisted psychopath … he even has the side music career, the rare one which foments curiosity rather than the expected groans and snickering (see: Dog Star). But, not as of yet, the awards. In “Crazy Heart”, he gives an incredibly consuming, unique, thoughtful and downright badass performance. I see this performance and think “My God, is there anything this man can‘t do???” It’s time to step up, Academy voters, and bestow upon “The Dude” the statue he so keenly deserves! And voters: if you are still suffering the after effects of the home breach perpetrated by Lord Cameron and his legion of costumed minions, fear not, as you can quietly help the Academy recover some face here by voting for Mr. Bridges.

I’m out, people… and wait… is that… I think I see Robert Patrick sprinting down the middle of Wilshire Boulevard!

2010 Oscar Predictions

Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Actor: Jeff Bridges
Best Actress: Sandra Bullock
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz
Best Supporting Actress: Mo’Nique