Countdown to the Oscars!

The Oscars are only three days away and I'm soooooo super-psyched. The Oscars are for me what the Superbowl is for most dudes. Seriously, I love everything about it. The gowns, the speeches, everything. I've been a little out of touch this awards season, though because I've been working so much. Lame, I know. I won't actually get to see the Oscars live (a real drag because my friend Mary is hosting what is sure to be a fabulous Oscar-themed cocktail party. Sigh.), but I will be DVR-ing them and watching them as soon as I get home. The following is my breakdown on the "BIG" categories.

*BEST PICTURE
And the nominees are...Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air.

I'd like to start off by saying I HATE HATE HATE the fact that there are ten best picture nominees this year. I'm all about traditions when it comes to the Oscars, and this is like grandma showing up with a sassy new piercing at Christmastime. It's just wrong. I've seen all of the nominees with the exception of The Hurt Locker (still really wanna see that one), Precious (though I know it's supposed to be amazing, not sure I can get through the incestuous rape, etc), and A Serious Man (still want to see this one as well). And of the ones I've seen I really think only District 9, An Education, Avatar, and Up are Best Picture quality movies. I enjoyed Up in the Air - for God's sake you could put George Clooney in a movie that combined incessant sports references and really difficult math problems (my two least favorite things in the world) and I'd still see it - but Best Picture? Methinks not.

My pick? I'd say I think District 9 should win because the story was one of the most compelling I've seen. It's an impressive film that can make you root for the aliens that have big guns and have landed on Earth for unknown reasons. A close second would be Up for me. That movie had so much heart, and one of the most beautiful love stories I've seen. Don't even get me started on Dug the dog. Perfection.

*BEST ACTRESS
And the nominees are...Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sidibe, and Meryl Streep.

In this category I'm rooting hard for Sandy. I can't help it, and neither can you, America! The woman is so damn likable it's absurd. She has said in interviews there's no way she'll win because she always picks the winners, and "nine times out of ten" she's right. Well, Sandy, I think this is the time you're wrong. You showed an emotional range we haven't seen before from you, and you took what could have been a very static character and turned in a very layered, elegant performance. Well done, miss. It bears mentioning that I think Meryl was AMAZING in Julie and Julia, but let's be honest, the lady is amazing in everything. If it doesn't go to Sandy, give it to Meryl.

*BEST ACTOR
And the nominees are...Jeff Bridges, George Clooney, Colin Firth, Jeremy Renner, and Morgan Freeman.

This category makes it painfully obvious how much I need to see The Hurt Locker. Immediately. Anywho, I think there's only one way this category will go. And I'm looking at you, The Dude. Seriously, if you have not yet seen Crazy Heart run as fast as you can to the nearest theater and do whatever you must to see it. It's amazing. The music alone was perfect and beautiful (giving a little street cred to country music), and Jeff Bridges was Bad Blake. I think maybe the best performance in any category. I said it, I'll say it again. I love you, Mr. Bridges.

So that's my two cents. We'll see how it all shakes out on Sunday. I'm eager to see how Steve and Alec do as hosts, though I can't imagine they'll do poorly. They're both so damn funny. And in my eyes (personal life aside, because WOW) Alec Baldwin is spot on every single time. So, Academy, I'm ready to be wowed! Don't let me down.


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