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The Gavel’s Oscar Picks

By Andrew Schofield, Managing Editor, on March 6, 2010 4:56 PM

By Andrew Schofield, Special Projects Editor -

Every year, the Oscars celebrate accomplishments in film. While it’s great to be even nomnated, it’s even better to win. The following are the films and actors The Gavel believes should take home the trophy:

Best Picture

Nominees: Avatar, The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, The Hurt Locker, Inglorious Basterds, Precious, A Serious Man, Up, Up in the Air

Our Pick: The Hurt Locker

In the largest field of Best Picture nominees in recent memory, The Hurt Locker sepa¬rates itself from the rest of the pack as the best film of the year with its stunning storyline and great script. The Hurt Locker, directed by Kathryn Bigelow, tells the story of a US Army bomb squad and its trials during the Iraq War. With strong performances by Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie, the film illustrates the full impact of the Iraq War on the American solider. Up in the Air and Inglorious Basterds deserve honorable mentions, but in the end, The Hurt Locker wins out.

Best Actor

Nominees: Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart), George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman(Invictus), Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker)

Our Pick: Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

Jeff Bridges has been nominated five times for an Academy Award, yet has zero Oscars to show for it. His role in Crazy Heart gives him his best chance so far for the honor. In the film, based on a novel by Thomas Cobb, Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake, a down-and-out country singer who tries to turn his life around after meeting a young journalist (Maggie Gyllenhall). Jeff Bridges shines in his role, which is based on a combination of several country singers including Merle Haggard. Honorable mention goes out to George Clooney for his striking portrayal of a corporate downsizer.

Best Actress

Nominees: Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side), Helen Mirren (The Last Station), Carey Mulligan (An Education), Gabourey Sidibe (Precious), Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia)

Our Pick: Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Having been nominated a record sixteen times and having won two Oscars earlier in her career, Meryl Streep is no stranger to the Academy Award limelight. Julia & Julia contrasts the life of Julia Child and her rise to stardom, and the life of Julie Powell and her attempt to cook all 524 recipes from Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Meryl Streep shines as Julia Child, balancing the hilarious, yet dramatic portions of Child’s life as portrayed in the film. Honorable mention goes to Sandra Bullock who impressed with her role as Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side, which follows the turbulent life of football star Michael Oher and his relationship with the Tuohy family.

Best Director

Nominees: Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker), James Cameron (Avatar), Lee Daniels (Precious), Jason Reitman (Up in the Air), Quentin Tarantino (Inglorious Basterds)

Our Pick: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

Historically, Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director tend to be given together and don’t expect that trend to be broken here. As one of only four women to ever be nominated for Best Director by the Academy, Kathryn Bigelow could potentially become the first woman to ever win the highest individual prize for a director. Described by New York Times’s film critic A.O. Scott as the best American film on the war in Iraq yet, The Hurt Locker benefits from Bigelow’s fantastic direction as the story flows seamlessly and clearly. Surprisingly enough, her main competition may be from her ex-husband, James Cameron, director of the box office hit Avatar, who is looking to follow up on his success at the Golden Globes where he won Best Director and Best Picture. However, despite the success of Avatar at the box office, no director is more deserving of the Oscar than Kathryn Bigelow.