Avatar, Hurt Locker Lead Oscar Nominations

Avatar, Hurt Locker Lead Oscar Nominations

Avatar and The Hurt Locker face off for best picture and best director at the 82nd Academy Awards. It's a predictable contest, with James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow - ex-husband and ex-wife - both for management positions. No woman has won. There were some corners, announced Tuesday at the best film category, which also included the crowd pleasing blind side, the low budget sci-fi success of District 9, the dark Coen brothers film, a serious man, the animated film up as well as education, Inglourious Basterds, precious, and in the air, the early favorite, entered the scene before Avatar. Other nominees for best director were also surprising: Quentin Tarantino, Lee Daniels and Jason Reitman did not all but perennial Academy darling Clint Eastwood was rebuffed. For best actor nominees are Jeff Bridges - Who is favored to win - George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman and Jeremy Renner, the star of the dark horse The Hurt Locker. Competing for best actress is Sandra Bullock - who won a Golden Globe in this category - Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey SIBID and Meryl Streep for her role in Julie & Julia. Best Supporting Actor nominees are Matt Damon for Invictus, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci (for The Lovely Bones ", instead of Julie & Julia) Christoph Waltz and overwhelming favorite. For Supporting Actress, with the winner likely Mo'Nique are Penelope Cruz, Vera Fermiga and Anna Kendrick (both up in the air) and Maggie Gyllenhaal.