"Avatar", "The Hurt Locker" lead 2010 Oscar Nominees

With 33 days until Oscar Night, the nominees for the 82nd annual Academy Awards were announced this morning (Photo Courtesy of Oscar.com)

Every year, the Academy Awards shine a light on Hollywood and reward actors, writers, producers and directors with accolades of greatness. To be etched into the historic nature that is the Academy Awards is nothing short of extraordinary. This year, the Oscars decided to go back to the way things were and nominate 10 films for Best Picture. Clearly this is because of what happened in 2008-2009 when Christopher Nolan's masterpiece "The Dark Knight," one of the best films of the decade, was left out of the Best Picture category. This and hoping to boost ratings is why the category was expanded. Now the drawback in doing this is that there won't be 10 worthy films that can be nominated every year. Also, the 10 movies will be split into a top tier for the films that have a chance to win and the bottom tier where a nomination will help boost DVD sales. Nevertheless, here are the nominees in the top categories for the 82nd Academy Awards:

Best Picture

* Avatar
* The Blind Side
* District 9
* An Education
* The Hurt Locker
* Inglorious Basterds
* Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire
* A Serious Man
* Up
* Up in the Air

Thoughts: It's fairly easy to see the top tier of these 10 films: "Avatar," "The Hurt Locker," "Up in the Air," "Up" and "Inglorious Basterds." "Precious" would have been a top tier film but not winning any major awards except for Mo'nique really hurts its chances to be rewarded with a Best Picture Oscar. "District 9" is a pleasant surprise to the list and well deserved. I don't agree with putting "Up" or "A Serious Man" in this category as they stole nominations away from "500 Days of Summer" and "Star Trek." The Cohen Brothers are a favorite of the Academy but "A Serious Man" got no recognition whatsoever from the Golden Globes or BAFTA's. Also, what is the point in having a seperate animation feature category if "Up" is nominated here? Another shocker is "The Blind Side" getting a Best Picture nod when it hasn't had any accolades except for Bullock. Look for a two movie race between "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker."

Best Director
* James Cameron "Avatar"
* Kathryn Bigalow "The Hurt Locker"
* Quentin Tarantino "Inglorious Basterds"
* Lee Daniels "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
* Jason Reitman "Up in the Air"

Thoughts: What a powerful group of Directors. All worthy of this award, it will be a close race with Reitman garnering his second nod in three years after "Juno." Tarantino earned his second nomination along with James Cameron. Newbies are Bigalow and Daniels for their impressive films. Bigalow is the interesting story because she is trying to become the first ever female director to win the award. This one is anyones game.

Best Actor in a Leading Role
* Jeff Bridges "Crazy Heart"
* George Clooney "Up in the Air"
* Colin Firth "A Single Man"
* Morgan Freeman "Invictus"
* Jeremy Renner "The Hurt Locker"

Thoughts: Great group of actors nominated in this category. Same nominees the Golden Globes had except replace Tobey Maguire with Jeremy Renner. Two actor race but I see Bridges locking up the category unless Clooney pulls a Sean Penn and upsets him.

Best Actress in a Leading Role
* Sandra Bullock "The Blind Side"
* Helen Miren "The Last Station"
* Carey Mulligan "An Education"
* Gabourey Sidibe "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
* Meryl Streep "Julie and Julia"

Thoughts: Great group of actresses nominated. Same nominees as the Golden Globes except replace Emily Blunt with the surprising Meryl Streep who captured her record 15th Academy Award nomination as Julia Child in "Julie and Julia." This category is all but locked up with Sandra Bullock winning every major award. Better prepare a speech Sandra.

Best Actor in a Supporting Role
* Matt Damon "Invictus"
* Woody Harrelson "The Messenger"
* Christopher Plummer "The Last Station"
* Stanley Tucci "The Lovely Bones"
* Christoph Waltz "Inglorious Basterds"

Thoughts: Carbon copy of the Golden Globe nominees. Tucci is nominated for an uncredited role. Waltz has this one wrapped up and should get his speech ready.

Best Actress in a Supporting Role
* Penelope Cruz "Nine"
* Vera Farmiga "Up in the Air"
* Maggie Gyllenhaal "Crazy Heart"
* Anna Kendrick "Up in the Air"
* Mo'Nique "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Thoughts: This category is already decided. Mo'Nique has dominated winning the Golden Globe, Screen Actors Gulld and many critic awards for her protrayal of a gritty, abusive mother. All the other ladies are definitely worthy of this award but Cruz won for Woody Allen's film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," Farmiga and Kendrick will cancel each other out and Gyllenhaal should just enjoy the nomination. Her time will come but this year it's Mo'Nique!

Shockers: "Star Trek" not earning a Best Picture nomination, "500 Days of Summer" getting no nominations at all.

So who will win Oscar Night? My predictions will be posted towards the end of February.
What are YOUR thoughts on the nominees? The expansion of the Best Picture Category? Post comments below!