Our critic's picks for the Oscars
For the first time in a while, those final few envelopes near the end of Sunday's Oscar broadcast might actually provide some nail-biting moments. "Avatar" seems a shoo-in for best picture, while Kathryn Bigelow seems destined for best director, but there's always room for an upset. No matter what happens, though, it's always fun to root for your favorites and play armchair quarterback, so here are our picks for the evening.
BEST PICTURE
"Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
SHOULD WIN "Avatar." For its ambition, scope and sheer wow-ness, this one is tough to beat.
WILL WIN "Avatar"
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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"
SHOULD WIN Firth. His portrayal of a gay college professor living in 1962 was astoundingly subtle and complex.
WILL WIN Bridges. He's eminently lovable as a washed-up country singer, and the academy owes this veteran an Oscar.
PHOTOS: Best actor nominees
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SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds"
SHOULD WIN Waltz. Without his happy-go-lucky Nazi Col. Landa, "Basterds" wouldn't have been half as much fun.
WILL WIN Waltz
PHOTOS: Best supporting actor nominees
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BEST ACTRESS
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"
SHOULD WIN Mulligan. As a British schoolgirl seduced by an older man, she's convincing, charming and ultimately heartbreaking.
WILL WIN Bullock. Her role as a heartland mom earned grudging respect from critics and struck a chord with audiences.
PHOTOS: Best actress nominees
VOTE: Who should win an Oscar for best actress?
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penélope 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"
SHOULD WIN Mo'Nique. In a movie full of harrowing moments, she provided most of them as a monstrously abusive mother.
WILL WIN Mo'Nique
PHOTOS: Best supporting actress nominees
VOTE: Who should win an Oscar for best supporting actress?
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
"Coraline"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"
"Up"
SHOULD WIN "Fantastic Mr. Fox." Wes Anderson's stop-motion feature is visually and verbally hilarious, with a sly undercurrent of serious philosophy.
WILL WIN "Up." This was a bona fide crowd-pleaser, and its simultaneous nod for best picture shows how highly it's regarded.
BEST DIRECTOR
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"
SHOULD WIN Bigelow, who deserves to become the first female director ever to win this award.
WILL WIN Bigelow
PHOTOS: Best director nominees
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