Oscar Night .

I have not seen every movie that was nominated this year but does that matter? Hardly. It's always about knowing what the Academy looks for rather than wat they saw.

Best Picture

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

I like that they expanded this category to 10 because it gives a movie like Up a nomination it may not otherwise have received. Which is great because Up and An Education were the two best movies I saw this year.

Will Win: The Hurt Locker
Look Out For: Up in the Air

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds

Will Win: Kathryn Bigelow
Look Out For: James Cameron

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

Will Win: Jeff Bridges
Look Out For: Colin Firth

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Will Win: Sandra Bullock
Look Out For: Carey Mulligan. At least I hope. She was just incredible in this role.

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrcik, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious

Will Win: Mo'Nique
Look Out For: Maggie Gyllenhaal

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christopher Waltz, Inglorious Basterds

Will Win: Christopher Waltz
Look Out For: Woody Harrelson

Best Original Screenplay

Mark Boal, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino, Inglorious Basterds
Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman, The Messenger
Joel Cohen & Ethan Cohen, A Serious Man
Bob Peterson & Pete Docter & Thomas McCarthy, Up

Will Win: Mark Boal
Look Out For: Quentin Tarantino

Best Adapted Screenplay

Neill Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell, District 9
Nick Hornby, An Education
Jesse Armstrong & Simon Blackwell & Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche, In the Loop
Geoffrey Fletcher, Precious
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner, Up in the Air

Will Win: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner
Look Out For: Nick Hornby