With Avatar getting nine Oscar nominations, James Cameron has moved several steps closer to fulfilling the top item on his not-very-secret agenda. That is, getting the chance to bellow something ridiculously pompous while receiving another Oscar for Best Director.
Last time for Titanic, it was the immortal “I’m king of the world!” Vegas odds makers have yet to release the full list of contenders but EYE WEEKLY’s bookie Larry Fingers is telling us to back one of these three: “I’m king of the galaxy!”, “Pants on the floor!” and “All you haters can suck it large!” (That last one sounds really pretty in Na’vi.)
Cameron and Avatar will have no shortage of competitors come March 7, though. What with the Best Picture category being expanded from five to 10 titles, the Academy has made good on promises to cast a big, happy net and include more populist fare (e.g., The Blind Side, District 9) alongside films too Jewish to be widely seen in red states (e.g., the Coens’ A Serious Man, which netted an original screenplay nod, too). As for the other major categories, there are fewer surprises, with all of the heavy-hitters in the pre-Oscars run-up (e.g., The Hurt Locker’s Jeremy Renner, Precious’ Mo’Nique, Inglourious Basterds’ Christoph Waltz) still in pole position for the big event.
Otherwise, we’re pleased to see: a best cinematography nod to Christian Berger for The White Ribbon; Il Divo up for best makeup; an adapted screenplay nomination for In the Loop; Nick Park and Aardman Animation claiming their umpteenth best animated short nomination for the latest Wallace & Gromit adventure, A Matter of Loaf and Death; a better-than-usual best foreign film category with The White Ribbon, A Prophet and the Israeli movie Ajami; and a solid documentary set that includes Food, Inc., The Cove and Burma VJ. Not pleased to see: nods for the dead-in-the-water likes of Nine and The Lovely Bones; no major nominations for Jane Campion and Bright Star (outside of a Best Costume nod); Timothy Olyphant burned once again.
But here’s what we see happening with the big awards and what James Cameron will be rudely shouting just after the winners are announced.
BEST ACTOR
Who should win: Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker
Who will win: Jeff Bridges for Crazy Heart
What James Cameron will shout: “You’ve sure got pretty hair, but not as pretty as mine!”
BEST ACTRESS
Who should win: Meryl Streep for Julie and Julia
Who will win: Sandra Bullock for The Blind Side
What James Cameron will shout: “Loved you in All About Steve! Call me!” Under his breath: “Zoe was robbed.”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who should win: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
Who will win: Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds
What James Cameron will shout: “Danke schön, my man!”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who should win: Anna Kendrick for Up in the Air
Who will win: Mo’Nique for Precious
What James Cameron will shout: “Oh, snap!” And then: “You go, girl!” Under his breath: “Sigourney was robbed.”
BEST ANIMATED FILM
What should win: Coraline
What will win: Up
What James Cameron will shout: “Boo! Get off the stage and get to one of my categories!” Under his breath: “Hayao Miyazaki was robbed.”
BEST PICTURE
What should win: The Hurt Locker
Who will win: Avatar
What James Cameron will shout: “Sorry, Hot Wife No. 3 — you just got served!”