Film lovers from all across the globe can rejoice; the Academy Awards nominations have been announced. Anne Hathaway and James Franco will host the 83rd annual Academy Awards Feb. 27, 2011 on ABC.<\/p>\n
An Academy Award is the highest recognition that can be given to directors, actors and writers for making outstanding progress in their work and pushing the boundaries of creative expression in cinematic art.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Oscars will be one of the toughest competitions the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has had to decide in the last decade. Here are the most popular categories and our predictions.<\/p>\n
\u2014Jessica Medina<\/em><\/p>\n Actor In A Leading Role<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Javier Bardem…………………Biutiful<\/em><\/p>\n Jeff Bridges………………………True Grit<\/em><\/p>\n Jesse Eisenberg\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026The Social Network<\/em><\/p>\n Colin Firth………………………..The King’s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n James Franco…………………..127 Hours<\/em><\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Colin Firth\u2014The King’s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n If there is any competitor in this category that Firth should be worried about, it should be Bardem in\u00a0Biutiful<\/em>. An exceptional performance from Bardem might knock Firth right out of the spotlight, even though Firth took home the Golden Globe for his portrayal of King George in\u00a0The King\u2019s Speech<\/em>.<\/p>\n Actor In A Supporting Role<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Christian Bale……………….The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n John Hawkes…………………Winter’s Bone<\/em><\/p>\n Jeremy Renner……………..The Town<\/em><\/p>\n Mark Ruffalo…………………The Kids Are All Right<\/em><\/p>\n Geoffrey Rush……………….The King’s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Christian Bale\u2014The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n All signs point to Christian Bale taking home his first\u2014but certainly not his last\u2014Academy Award. Far ahead of the competition, Bale might have given one of the most unforgettable performances in cinematic history. Another front-runner in this category is the ever consistent Academy Award winner Geoffrey Rush, but it is highly unlikely that he can overshadow Bale this year, even with his flawless performance in\u00a0The King\u2019s Speech<\/em>.<\/p>\n Directing<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Darren Aronofsky……………..Black Swan<\/em><\/p>\n David O. Russell………………..The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n Tom Hooper……………………….The King’s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n David Fincher…………………….The Social Network<\/em><\/p>\n Joel Coen, Ethan Coen………True Grit<\/em><\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n David Fincher\u2014The Social Network<\/em><\/p>\n The Golden Globe win of David Fincher would indicate he is the likely candidate to take home the Oscar. However, it would not be surprising if others such as Darren Aronofsky or Tom Hooper sneak up and steal it away.<\/p>\n Animated Feature Film<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n How to Train Your Dragon<\/em>……..Chris Sanders, Dean DeBlois<\/p>\n The Illusionist<\/em>……………………………Sylvain Chomet<\/p>\n Toy Story 3<\/em>…………………………………Lee Unkrich<\/p>\n <\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Toy Story 3<\/em>\u2014Lee Unkrich<\/p>\n This is a no-brainer. Toy Story 3 is also nominated for Best Picture\u2014unlike the other two nominees\u2014a definite indicator of who has the upper hand to win the Oscar.<\/p>\n Actress In A Leading Role<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Annette Bening\u2026\u2026\u2026..The Kids Are All Right<\/em><\/p>\n Nicole Kidman……………Rabbit Hole<\/em><\/p>\n Jennifer Lawrence……..Winter’s Bone<\/em><\/p>\n Natalie Portman…………Black Swan<\/em><\/p>\n Michelle Williams………Blue Valentine<\/em><\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Natalie Portman\u2014Black Swan<\/em><\/p>\n There is no denying that Natalie Portman is steadily climbing toward the zenith of her career, especially after her Golden Globe win as Nina Sayers in\u00a0Black Swan<\/em>. It would be a great surprise if she does not take home the Oscar this year. But worthy contenders such as Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman and four-time Oscar nominee Annette Bening are right at her heels.<\/p>\n Actress In A Supporting Role<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Amy Adams………………………..The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n Melissa Leo…………………………The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n Hailee Steinfeld………………….True Grit<\/em><\/p>\n Jacki Weaver………………………Animal Kingdom<\/em><\/p>\n Helena Bonham Carter ……The King\u2019s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Melissa Leo\u2014<\/em><\/strong>The Fighter<\/em><\/p>\n Taking home her first Golden Globe for her performance in\u00a0The Fighter<\/em>, Melissa Leo is up for her second Academy nomination. This is practically a steal for Leo, as her performance was unparalleled compared to the other actresses nominated. It would be an upset to the entire cinematic community if Leo does not take home the Oscar.<\/p>\n Cinematography<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Black Swan<\/em>………………..Matthew Libatique<\/p>\n Inception<\/em>…………………….Wally Pfister<\/p>\n The King’s Speech<\/em>……..Danny Cohen<\/p>\n The Social Network<\/em>\u2026.Jeff Cronenweth<\/p>\n True Grit<\/em>……………………..Roger Deakins<\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n The King\u2019s Speech<\/em>\u00a0\u2014<\/em>Danny Cohen<\/p>\n Cinematography entails the lighting and camera working together to produce and evoke certain emotions from the audience when editing a scene. Because its striking visuals cannto be easily forgotten,\u00a0The King\u2019s Speech<\/em>\u00a0is the top contender. However,\u00a0The Social Network<\/em>\u00a0is very close behind. The two films are neck and neck in this category.<\/p>\n Best Picture<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Black Swan……………………<\/em>Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver, Scott Franklin<\/p>\n The Fighter……………………<\/em>David Hoberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg<\/p>\n Inception<\/em>……………………….Emma Thomas ,Christopher Nolan<\/p>\n The Kids Are All Right…<\/em>Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray<\/p>\n The King’s Speech\u2026\u2026\u2026.<\/em>Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin<\/p>\n 127 Hours………………………<\/em>Christian Colson, Danny Boyle, John Smithson<\/p>\n The Social Network……..<\/em>Scott Rudin, Dana Brunetti, Michael De Luca, Ce\u00e1n Chaffin<\/p>\n Toy Story 3<\/em>……………………Darla K. Anderson<\/p>\n True Grit<\/em>………………………Scott Rudin, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen<\/p>\n Winter’s Bone<\/em>……………..Anne Rosellini Alix Madigan-Yorkin<\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n The King\u2019s Speech<\/em><\/p>\n With producers, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Gareth Unwin, leading the way with 12 Oscar nominations and 14 British Academy of Film and Television Arts nominations, it would be naive to think this prime example of cinematic perfection would not win Best Picture. Although\u00a0The Social Network<\/em>\u00a0did win the Golden Globe in this category, it seems only evident\u00a0The King\u2019s Speech<\/em>\u00a0will take home the Oscar, as no other film is nominated for almost every single category.<\/p>\n Documentary Feature<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Exit Through the Gift Shop<\/em>…………….Banksy, Jaimie D’Cruz<\/p>\n Gasland……………………………………………….<\/em>Josh Fox, Trish Adlesic<\/p>\n Inside Job<\/em>………………………………………….Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs<\/p>\n Restrepo<\/em>……………………………………………Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger<\/p>\n Waste Land<\/em>………………………………………Lucy Walker, Angus Aynsley<\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Restrepo\u00a0\u2014<\/strong><\/em>Tim Hetherington, Sebastian Junger<\/p>\n A moving documentary about the war in Afghanistan is always a crowd tear-jerker, and more than likely Oscar worthy. Other critics claim that\u00a0Exit Through the Gift<\/em>\u00a0Shop is also likely to swipe the Oscar from\u00a0Restrepo<\/em>.<\/p>\n Foreign Language Film<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NOMINEES<\/p>\n Biutiful<\/em>………………………………..Mexico<\/p>\n Dogtooth<\/em>…………………………….Greece<\/p>\n In a Better World<\/em>………………Denmark<\/p>\n Incendies<\/em>…………………………….Canada<\/p>\n Outside the Law<\/em>………………..Algeria<\/p>\n PREDICTION<\/p>\n Biutiful\u2014<\/em>Mexico<\/p>\n An elaborate and powerful art-house film by three-time Oscar nominee Alejandro Gonzalez I\u00f1arritu.\u00a0Biutiful<\/em>\u00a0is an exemplary film with its content, message and creativity. The only other fierce competitor for this award is\u00a0In a Better World<\/em>, as it won a Golden Globe in this category.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Film lovers from all across the globe can rejoice; the Academy Awards nominations have been announced. Anne Hathaway and James Franco will host the 83rd annual Academy Awards Feb. 27, 2011 on ABC. An Academy Award is the highest recognition that can be given to directors, actors and writers for making outstanding progress in their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":350,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-7453","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-ae"},"yoast_head":"\n