This was the tough choice. It was either this or Clint Eastwood‘s Invictus. Both are based on incredible true stories, Amelia of course being about Amelia Earhart and Invictus is about Nelson Madelia. I was going to put Invictus because of the combination of Eastwood, Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, however I have a strong feeling that film will get delayed, so here is Amelia to fill it’s true story spot in the top 10. It also has Oscar favourites Hillary Swank and Richard Gere and it should be just the sort of tastefully tacky picture audiences and Academy both fall for. Definitely not the stand-out film on the list, but I will be highly surprised if this doesn’t get a nod.

Amelia will be released in cinemas from November 12

An Education is currently one of the front-runners, I would dare to say that it will have the shortest odds come next year. The reviews so far have been amazing, Carey Mulligan gives a break-out performance that will put her on the path to stardom. It is also a period piece and is exactly the sort of film the Academy goes bonkers for, plus it is British and only one year this decade hasn‘t featured a British film. Add in Nick Hornby‘s amazing script (yes I have read it) and you have a film that is shaping up as the clear favourite. What is working against it? It may just be a little bit small time and a bit too indie for the Academy. Only time will tell.

An Education will be released in cinemas from October 22

So this list features two Iraq war movies. However, unlike the other, this is not set in Iraq and could play has a very well made thriller-drama when compared to the confronting war of the other film. So why do I think this deserves a nod in front of the other 30 Iraq films released each year? Firstly the cast. Jake Gyllenhaal, Natalie Portman and Tobey Maguire. Early reports have it that Maguire puts in the performance we have been waiting 10 years for and he finally shows he actually has dramatic talent, whilst Gyllenhaal and Portman are past-nominees. The big card here though is Jim Sheridan, name might mean nothing to you, but he has had a fantastic career that has garnered him 6 Oscar noms, but no wins. This could be the year for Jim!

Brothers is expected to hit cinemas in February or March

Ok I could cop a bit of flack for this. In my mind though District 9 in the wild-card, the dark horse, the one that could just do what so many sci-fi flicks have failed to do before it. Whilst I doubt it would ever win, I hope it just gets a nomination, because lets be honest, no other film this year was as original or as engaging to watch. It was one of the years best and does indeed deserve to be nominated for Best Picture. If it doesn‘t then you‘ll get just as much out-cry as you got last year when Dark Knight was snubbed. In the end though, I could just be hoping for a little too much.

District 9 has already shown in cinemas and will be available on DVD and Bluray early next year

This should please a lot of you on here! Personally I haven‘t seen it, mainly because Perth hasn‘t had it at a festival yet, however I haven‘t seen a film as well received as this one this year. A nomination is a definite, I have no doubt about that (yes I will bet my other, and last remaining, testicle on that!) however it will have its work cut out for it if it wants the award. I mainly say this because it is directed by a female, the Academy have never acknowledged the female director’s working in the industry. Although Jeremy Renner is odds on fav to win Best Actor, which is great, but I think that could be the only award it goes home with on Oscar night.

The Hurt Locker will be released in cinemas from February 4

I don’t like Peter Jackson, never have, never will, so my enthusiasm for this project isn‘t that high. However of all the films on the list, this is the sort of film the Academy is likely to recognise. Ignore the early reports that call it a generic thriller rather than a hard-hitting drama and focus on the actual film. One of the greatest books of all-time, adapted by one of the greatest film-makers of all-time, starring a cast that features some of the current and all-time greats and a story that has strong messages, heaps of originality and a whole lot of heart. I don‘t think it will win the Oscar, but it will get very close and just looking at the trailer suggests it will be one of the emotional highlights of the year. Good luck.

The Lovely Bones will be released in cinemas from December 26

If Burn After Reading can get nominated for all the awards it did, then Goats (as the cool kids call it) should definitely get a BP nom. Haven‘t seen the trailer? Well please do, it looks absolutely gold and it features the best cast of any film on this list. You have Clooney, Spacey, Bridges of the Jeff kind and Mr. Ewan McGregor. You also have a fresh director, a script by a fresh writer and a story based on a best-selling book. Could be the breath of fresh-funny air that Hollywood really needs, plus I also think that 2009 is Clooney‘s year. He has two films on this list and another that just missed out, but that one will probably win Best Animated Feature.

The Men Who Stare At Goats is expected to hit cinemas in February or March

Whilst only a few films are getting better reviews than Precious, it is one film that I feel may not get the Oscar recognition it truly deserves. Whilst Mo’Nique already has the supporting actress Oscar, the film’s director has burnt many bridges in Hollywood over the years with his previously produced films. The Academy hates being disrespected and rarely forgive people who bag them, hence I don’t see Precious getting a nomination or the Award, but its on the list cause it deserves to be and fingers crossed the Academy will get over themselves and nominate this film.

Precious: Based on the Novel by Sapphire will be released in cinemas from February

At this very date in time Up in the Air is favourite for the Best Picture award. It has received cracking reviews from its festival showings, some of which made me wet at their awesomeness. It also has nothing working against it. You have previously nominated writer/director in Jason Reitman, you have a previous winner in the lead with Clooney, you have Anna Kendrick who puts in the break-out performance of the year and the story is original, funny, fresh and life affirming. I can‘t say anything more about it really, because I guarantee that come next year you would have all seen, loved and being cheering on Up in the Air.

Up in the Air will be released in cinemas from January 7

I couldn‘t not include this film on the list. Whilst it may have been in production hell for the good part of 18 months, it is hard to deny the potential this film has and we‘ve only seen the trailers! I personally expect this to scoop the production Oscar‘s, but it could very well become a BP shoe-in when it gets released next week in the US, first reviews will be critical to how far this film will go in the race, but I have a strong feeling this will be the classic we have all become to expect of it. I truly hope that this gets nominated and Jonze‘s work is honoured.

Where the Wild Things Are will be released in cinemas from December 3

Article by: MMGN 113Kudos 12/10/2009

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