The 82nd Academy Awards: JXM Picks the Winners

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

JXM Picks: The Hurt Locker
Now we know that Avatar has shattered endless records, pioneered new cinematic technology and obviously James Cameron can write a story with immense universal appeal. But in our books, what makes Best Picture material is being able to execute and convey with beautiful simplicity and still invoke a feeling of awe in its viewer. And The Hurt Locker has managed to do just that, encapsulating everything we could want in a film - excellent writing, emotional ressonance, superb acting, and gripping plot. The perfect recipe for an Academy Award.

Actor in a Leading Role
Jeff Bridges - Crazy Heart
George Clooney - Up in the Air
Colin Firth - A Single Man
Morgan Freeman - Invictus
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker

JXM Picks: Jeff Bridges
Bridges easily takes the cake on this one, not only for the universal recognition of his stunning performance the world over, but simply because of just that. He was stunning.

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

JXM Picks: Christoph Waltz
The topper goes to Waltz for his incredible three dimensionality in Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds and if you need a refresher as to why, just click here.

Actress in a Leading Role
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

JXM Picks: Sandra Bullock
Carey Mulligan is our close second for her portrayal of a bright-eyed 17 year old struggling against an old patriarchic system and a new world of culture, art and lesiure from a much older man. But Bullock is likely to take home the little golden man for her country charm and heart of gold.

Actress in a Supporting Role
Penelope 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

JXM Picks: Mo-Nique



No one else has made as many headlines as Mo-Nique for her unapologetic portrayal of an abusive mother in Daniels' Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. Truthfully, no one deserves it more than she for taking on a role with such little favourability going beyond the cartoonish definition of 'villain.'

Animated Feature Film
Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells
Up

JXM Picks: Up



Pixar sweeps this category time after time and this will be another well deserved year. This heart tugging tale of an elderly man and a hard working boy scout searching for home take the Disney/Pixar combo to a whole new height.

Directing
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

JXM Picks: Kathryn Bigelow
The ex of powerhouse James Cameron, Bigelow is favoured to win for her immpecable execution of a soldier who's job is to disarm IEDs on a daily basis is both riveting and heart pounding.

Documentary Feature
Burma VJ
The Cove
Food Inc.
The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers
Which Way Home

JXM Picks: The Cove
Eye opener, The Cove made headlines early before its release as celebrity Hayden Panettiere put herself between dolphin poachers and the animals' breeding home. This documentary filled with a pure and compassionate heart and soul take on the poachers firsthand. Filmed with hidden camera footage, The Cove captures disturbing and graphic images that shake you to the bone.

Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Neil Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell - District 9
Nick Hornby - An Education
Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci & Tony Roche - In the Loop
Geoffrey Flectcher - Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner - Up in the Air

JXM Picks: Jason Reitman & Sheldon Turner
Though Blomkamp and Tatchell are more than deserving of this award for this fresh spin on sci fi that is brilliantly written filled with creativity and imagination. But Reitman and Turner are the front runners to take home the statue for their adaptation of lost souls in the air.

Writing (Original Screenplay)
Mark Boal - The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarantino - Inglourious Basterds
Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman - The Messenger
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen - A Serious Man
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter. Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson & Tony McCarthy - Up

JXM Picks: Mark Boal
We can't praise The Hurt Locker enough so what other fitting way is there than to sum up our predictions with awarding Boal for writing it.