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Show SpecialFeatures Page 8 Friday, March 5, 2010 n %II1 ‘rne PICKS & PREDICTIONS BY LAREMY LEGEL/FILM.COM Two categories remain up for grabs as the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony barrels towards telecast March 7 (8 p.m. ET, ABC). The biggie? Best Picture. "The Hurt Locker" and "Avatar" eye each other warily, though an "Inglourious Basterds" victory isn't mathematically impossible. Best Actress offers a modicum of suspense too; it's the classic battle of "She's never been this good!" (Sandra Bullock) paring off against "She's always s0000 good!" (Meryl Streep). The other four major categories? They're probably a done deal, with the Oscars presentation acting as a mere formality. PICTURE The epic battle for Oscar's soul will come down to "Avatar" vs. "The Hurt Locker." Is The Academy set to stand up for the plucky underdog? If so, "The Hurt Locker" will become the lowest grossing Best Picture winner ever, and by a large margin: "Crash" topped $50 million in domestic receipts, while "The Hurt Locker" has earned a full four times less. Rewarding a film that, essentially, no one has seen will send a strong message to the masses: The Academy doesn't need your input. The other direction the voting could go is right into the arms of James Cameron's "Avatar," which will have cleared more than $2.5 billion at the box office when the curtain comes up on Oscar night. It is the people's champion, though certain members of The Academy must be reluctant to reward a film so reliant on technology. "Avatar" has one historical trend working against it too: it would be the first Best Picture winner to garner no actor or writing nominations since 1932 ("Grand Hotel"). The coattails of "Avatar" are long, but evidently they don't have any room for the people who actually appeared on the screen. WILL WIN: "The Hurt Locker" SHOULD WIN: "Avatar" DIRECTOR MCT FASHION FORECAST Before the Oscars are handed out, the evening is all about the golden girls of the red carpet. In anticipation of this fashionable portion of the program, we're handing out style awards: The Fashion Oscars, if you will. The envelope, please? BEST USE OF COLOR: GABOUREY SIDIBE More often than not, this best actress nominee embraces rich, dynamic colors on the red carpet. During awards season, Sidibe has strutted in royal blue, emerald green, red, pink, purple and orange. Not many people can pull that off — or even have the courage to try. BEST LITTLE BLACK DRESS: PENELOPE CRUZ An LBD is always a safe bet. But Cruz has a knack for finding black frocks that punch up the classic It's taken 82 years, but The Academy will finally hand over a Best Director Academy Award to a female director. James Cameron's already won a director statue, while Jason Reitman, Lee Daniels and Quentin Tarantino will all be back. Remember, The Academy loves to reward pedigree, and Kathryn Bigelow has paid her dues. Combine that with the fact that "The Hurt Locker" is The suspense is killing us look. Her short L' Wren Scott dress at the SAG awards boasted sparkling embellishments and beaded strands at the shoulders, while her elegant Giorgio Armani Prive mermaid gown from the Golden Globes was rich with texture, including lace trim and horizontal stripes. BEST SHOES: CAREY MULLIGAN A girl after our own hearts! While Mulligan's gowns sometimes do a disservice to her adorable figure, the best actress nominee has some of the best footwear we've seen — like the Gianvito Rossi ankle strap sandal (left) that she wore at the 2010 Directors Guild of America Awards. From patent shoe booties to sequin-trimmed sandals to heels with floral embellishments, Mulligan's got a pair of shoes for every occasion. a taut actioner and you've got a recipe for which The Academy can pat itself on the back. WILL WIN: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" SHOULD WIN: Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" indication she'll be up for an Academy Award again in the near future. WILL WIN: Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" SHOULD WIN: Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia" SUPPORTING ACTOR Jeff Bridges ACTOR This will be Jeff Bridges' fifth shot at Academy gold — his first came back in 1972 for "The Last Picture Show." The difference between his previous four nominations and this one? This is the one he wins, as his portrayal of "Bad" Blake, a washed-up country crooner, has found support from fans and critics alike. Plus, who doesn't like Jeff Bridges? You can look forward to a wry speech from him come Oscar night. WILL WIN: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart" SHOULD WIN: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart" ACTRESS The Academy's dilemma here is a profound one. Do you give the little golden man to the gal who did something completely out of her range, and who probably won't be back? Or do you finally reward Meryl Streep with her third Oscar, as it's been almost 30 years since she's triumphed? Chances are Bullock will get the votes she needs to win under the auspice of crowning Streep next year. Or the year after, as the 16 nominations she's earned give a pretty good By Academy standards, German actor Christoph Waltz pulled off a rare feat. He put up a winning performance in August and was then forced to sweat out "Oscar season." Luckily for him, it came off flawlessly. No one else mounted a serious challenge; Waltz will have a chance to shine in four languages when he takes the podium. WILL WIN: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds" SHOULD WIN: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds" Mo'Nique SUPPORTING ACTRESS "Precious" had a significant amount of buzz in November, only to see it all washed away by "Avatar" at the box office and "The Hurt Locker" on the critical and professional awards circuit. Still, Mo'Nique will come out on top come March 7, providing a lift for a film that desperately needs marketing for the DVD push. WILL WIN: Mo'Nique, "Precious" SHOULD WIN: Mo'Nique, "Precious" and we don't mean who will take home the statues BEST COVER-UP: MERYL STREEP At 60, the best actress nominee isn't trying to keep up with young Hollywood on the red carpet. Her age-appropriate looks usually involve long sleeves, but she still manages to look glam by incorporating prints, shiny fabrics, interesting belted waistlines or slightly off-theshoulder tops. Besides being a huge talent, she's got class for miles. BEST HAIR: SANDRA BULLOCK No matter what Bullock is wearing, her hair is often her best and most diverse accessory, giving her a fresh look with each appearance. From a wavy chignon (Golden Globes) to an up 'do with mild volume (SAG) to down and straight (Santa Barbara International Film Festival), Bullock's tresses are always on point. BOOBY PRIZE: MARIAH CAREY The voluptuous singer-turned-actor always manages to find something that's at least one size too small for her (and usually two sizes too small on top). Though she famously de-glammed her look for her supporting role in "Precious," it remains to be seen whether Mimi shows restraint on Oscar's red carpet. — Maisy Fernandez, film. com For everything movies, TV and, of course, Oscar: visit film.coin MCT PHOTOS |