Fearless Oscar prophets predict best picture nominees (Can 'Star Trek' or 'District 9' really fly?)
Following up on the brave Oscar forecasts that we featured Tuesday, here's a new batch of best picture predictions from another gang of pundits: Thelma Adams (Us Weekly), Kevin Lewin (World Entertainment News Network), Richard Rushfield (Gawker), Jeff Wells (Hollywood Elsewhere) and Susan Wloszczyna (USA Today).
All of these oracles foresee a nomination for "The Hurt Locker," "Invictus," "Precious" and "Up." One of our gurus (Thelma) is boldly going where no pundit's gone before by picking "Star Trek," which, I agree, is a real contender. Kev's also making some way-out choices, admitting to me in an e-mail that "Moon" may just be wishful thinking. Jeff waffles a bit, saying that either "Inglourious Basterds" or "District 9" will get in, so both titles are listed here with question marks. Predictions for "Star Trek," "District 9" and "Avatar" are curious considering the academy's historic reluctance to embrace sci-fi fare. Only two films of that genre have been nominated for best pic in the past: "E.T." and "Star Wars." However, this year there will be twice as many nominees as usual, of course, so there's more room for exceptions.
Check out more predictions from our Gold Derby seers here.
| BEST PICTURE | Adams | Lewin | Rushfield | Wells | Wloszczyna |
| "Avatar" |
X |
|
X | ||
| "Bright Star" |
X |
X |
|||
| "Brothers" |
X |
||||
| "An Education" |
X |
X |
X |
X | |
| "District 9" |
? |
||||
| "Hurt Locker" |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| "Inglourious Basterds" |
|
? |
X | ||
| "Invictus" |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| "Lovely Bones" |
X |
X |
|
X | |
| "The Informant" |
X |
||||
| "It's Complicated" |
|
X | |||
| "Moon" |
X |
||||
| "Nine" |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
| "Precious" |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| "The Road" |
|
X |
|
| |
| "A Serious Man" |
X |
||||
| "Sherlock Holmes" |
X |
||||
| "Star Trek" |
X |
||||
| "Up" |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
| "Up in the Air" |
X |
|
X |
X |
X |
| "Where the Wild Things Are" |
|
X |
Left photo: Scene from "Star Trek." Credit: Paramount
Right photo: Scene from "District 9" Credit: Tristar
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Star Trek could be, at the very best, an also-ran contender, shoehorned into the nominations for the very purpose of bringing in awards show viewers, which is the only reason the Academy made the bone-headed decision to expand the Best Pic category to ten; in any other Oscar year, it wouldn't have a prayer in hell of ever being nominated. Glad to see The Hurt Locker getting so much love, by the way.
Posted by: James S. | November 01, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Isn't it a tad ridiculous to be making predictions involving movies that haven't been seen yet? Bad enough that informed film criticism is no longer taken as seriously as the kind of "buzz" that's initiated by studio flacks and entertainment
reporters. But at least let's wait 'til these movies open before we start playing the Awards game.
Posted by: stu freeman | October 31, 2009 at 11:01 PM
I can see Star Trek attracting the attention of the academy in major categories, only if Avatar fails to live up to its hype. However, District 9 is a no go (maybe some tech noms) but for the voting branch of older members that movie wont score. Personally, I think the movie sucked & walked out.
Posted by: TORRENCE5 | October 29, 2009 at 09:16 AM
District 9 is a significant addition to the serious sci-fi genre, imaginatively staged and well acted, and I really hope it squeaks in there.
Posted by: Morgan | October 28, 2009 at 12:12 PM
"District 9" and "Star Trek" are my two favorite movies this year! I would be TOTALLY psyched if either one got a much deserved nomination. :)
Posted by: lizriz | October 28, 2009 at 10:58 AM
So why are both Star Trek and District 9 being bandied around while the far superior mass market entertainment of The Hangover and the sublime hilarity of In The Loop are, apparently, not even in the running?
Oh wait. The Academy hates comedies. I forgot.
Posted by: andy | October 28, 2009 at 08:54 AM