My Picks for the Oscars in 2010

Like most people, I usually don't hear about "Oscar-type" movies until after they're nominated or released on DVD. Last year I didn't see any of the nominees for Best Picture until I went to an AMC Theatres Showcase (five movies for $25 plus unlimited popcorn). Now that there's ten nominees, almost any movie could become an "Oscar-type" movie and what's more surprising is that this year I'd already seen all ten before they were nominated. The following list is not of who I predict will win but who would win if it were just up to me:

Actor in a Leading Role - I can't choose because I haven't seen three of the five nominees: Crazy Heart, Invictus or A Single Man

Actor in a Supporting Role - it wouldn't be fair for me to choose because I never plan to watch three of the five nominees: The Last Station, The Lovely Bones and The Messenger

Actress in a Leading Role - Gabourey Sidibe on Precious (if not now then when?)

Actress in a Supporting Role - Vera Farmiga on Up in the Air, because I've never liked an actress so much while playing a character I disliked so much

Animated Feature Film - John Musker and Ron Clements on The Princess and the Frog, although I look forward to The Secret of Kells getting a wide release

Art Direction(?) - I'm not sure what this even is, nor have I seen three of the five nominees: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Sherlock Holmes and The Young Victoria

Cinematography - I'm not sure if I want to watch two of the three nominees: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince or The White Ribbon

Costume Design - Janet Patterson on Bright Star

Directing - James Cameron on Avatar, because no other nominee shoved his vision down the general public's throat as successfully

Documentary (Feature or Short Subject) - I haven't seen any of them nor do I know anyone who has

Film Editing - Julian Clarke on District 9 (although I'm not sure if the "TV news" look counts as editing or an in-camera effect)

Foreign Language Film - the only one I've heard of is The Prophet

Makeup - Barney Burman, Mindy Hall and Joel Harlow on Star Trek, because I've never seen so many beautiful people on a sci-fi movie (and one of them had green skin)

Music (Original Score) - Marco Beltrami and Buck Sanders on The Hurt Locker

Music (Original Song) - Randy Newman on The Princess and the Frog

(Best) Picture - The Hurt Locker, because I want there to be a new record for lowest grossing movie to win Best Picture

Short Film (Animated or Live Action) - I was glad when Blockbuster started renting collections of these, but how many people actually know or care?

Sound Editing(?) - Michael Silvers and Tom Myers on Up, for the birds and dogs (if editing has anything to do with that)

Sound Mixing - Anna Behlmer, Andy Nelson and Peter J. Devlin on Star Trek, for changing it up and not being consistently loud

Visual Effects - Dan Kaufman, Peter Muyzers, Robert Habros and Matt Aitken on District 9, because alien, blue, cat people are ugly

Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - Terri Tatchell on District 9, for its themes

Writing (Original Screenplay) - Joel Coen and Ethan Coen on A Serious Man