No offense to Sanda Bullock and left tackles around the world, but The Blind Side deserves a Best Picture nomination about as much as Jake Pavelka deserves an award for sincerity.
But that’s what happens when you water down the Academy Awards and nominate twice as many films as usual for the top honor. The 2010 nominees were announced earlier today. A look at the main categories…
Best Picture
Avatar
A Serious Man
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
Up
Up in the Air
Can anything stop Avatar? Only The Hurt Locker has a chance.
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
Best Actress
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourey Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia
Best Supporting Actor
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds
Best Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air
Mo’Nique, Precious
Best Director
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
James Cameron, Avatar
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds
Who got snubbed? Who are the favorites? Chime in with your take now! (The Oscars will air live on March 7.)