The nominees for the 81st Annual Academy Awards was announced this morning, and the nominees are:

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

• 

  Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)

• George Clooney in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Colin Firth in “A Single Man” (The Weinstein Company)
• Morgan Freeman in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
• Jeremy Renner in “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)

AYB’s Prediction: Though everyone is talking about George Clooney’s performance in “Up in the Air,” I think this will be the year that Jeremy Renner breaks out and catapults to A-list status as the Best Actor winner for his role in “The Hurt Locker.”

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

• Matt Damon in “Invictus” (Warner Bros.)
• Woody Harrelson in “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
• Christopher Plummer in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Stanley Tucci in “The Lovely Bones” (DreamWorks in association with Film4, Distributed by Paramount)
• Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)

AYB’s Prediction: Two words; Stanley Tucci.

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

• Sandra Bullock in “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
• Helen Mirren in “The Last Station” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Carey Mulligan in “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• Gabourey Sidibe in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
• Meryl Streep in “Julie & Julia” (Sony Pictures Releasing)

AYB’s Prediction: Sandra may have taken home the Golden Globe for Best Actress in “The Blind Side,” but that was only because she wasn’t up against Meryl Streep in that category.  Streep created the perfect recipe in her starring role in “Julie & Julia,” and she will win top honors.

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

• Penélope Cruz in “Nine” (The Weinstein Company)
• Vera Farmiga in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in “Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)
• Anna Kendrick in “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)
• Mo’Nique in “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)

AYB’s Prediction: It’s a phrase we thought we’d never hear, but “The Oscar goes to Mo’Nique.”

Adapted Screenplay

• “District 9″ (Sony Pictures Releasing), Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
• “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics), Screenplay by Nick Hornby
• “In the Loop” (IFC Films), Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher
• “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

AYB’s Prediction: All of these films are deserving, but “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” is going to push aside the competition.

Original Screenplay

• “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Written by Mark Boal
• “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Written by Quentin Tarantino
• “The Messenger” (Oscilloscope Laboratories), Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman
• “A Serious Man” (Focus Features), Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
• “Up” (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter; Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy

AYB’s Prediction: Quentin Tarantino is revolutionary, and his spin on WWII brought some new life to the genre.  This is his year at the Oscars.

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

• “Coraline” (Focus Features), Henry Selick
• “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (20th Century Fox), Wes Anderson
• “The Princess and the Frog” (Walt Disney), John Musker and Ron Clements
• “The Secret of Kells” (GKIDS), Tomm Moore
• “Up” (Walt Disney), Pete Docter

AYB’s Prediction: While “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is a favorite of ours at AYB, we predict that Disney will take home the trophy for their film, “Up.”

Achievement in Directing

• “Avatar” (20th Century Fox), James Cameron
• “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment), Kathryn Bigelow
• “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company), Quentin Tarantino
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate), Lee Daniels
• “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios), Jason Reitman

AYB’s Prediction: While all the directors in this category deserve accolades for their film contributions this past year, Lee Daniels will be the one who comes out victorious.

Best Motion Picture of the Year

• “Avatar” (20th Century Fox)
• “The Blind Side” (Warner Bros.)
• “District 9″ (Sony Pictures Releasing)
• “An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)
• “The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
• “Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)
• “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)
• “A Serious Man” (Focus Features)
• “Up” (Walt Disney)
• “Up in the Air” (Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios)

AYB’s Prediction: Though the Academy included 10 nominees in the “Best Motion Picture” category this year, there is no doubt in our minds that James Cameron’s “Avatar” will take home the big award.
See the full list of nominees here.

Photo Credits: Jeremy Renner (www.chud.com); Stanley Tucci (www.monstersandcritics.com); Meryl Streep (blog.pennlive.com); “Precious” Movie Poster (www.chud.com); “Up” Movie Poster (ryanhawiya.wordpress.com); Quentin Tarantino (flesheatingblog.wordpress.com); Lee Daniels (movieshrink.files.wordpress.com); Avatar Movie Poster (www.mannythemovieguy.com); Mo’Nique (blogs.bet.com)