The Oscars to have 10 Best Picture Nominees.

The Motion Picture Academy announced Wednesday that for the first time in more than 65 years, the field of best picture nominees will be expanded to 10 contenders for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards according to Variety.

“Having 10 best picture nominees is going allow Academy voters to recognize and include some of the fantastic movies that often show up in the other Oscar categories but have been squeezed out of the race for the top prize,” said Academy President Sid Ganis in announcing the shift. “I can’t wait to see what that list of 10 looks like when the nominees are announced in February.”

The last time the Oscar race featured 10 best pic contenders was the 16th annual contest in 1943, when "Casablanca" emerged with the top prize. There were 10 best picture nominees for most of the Academy Awards' first decade. In 1935 there was a bumper crop of 12 nominees.

The Oscar nominations will be announced on 2nd February 2010 with the awards handed out 7th March 2010 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

When I first heard this news I thought "Great, lots of films in the running." Then my second thought was "Hold on a minute." If there are more nominess for best picture then doesn't that sort of devalue the prestige of having a Best Picture Nominee?

It brought to mind that bit from The Incredibles when Dash is talking to his Mum.

Helen: Everyone's special, Dash.
Dash: [muttering] Which is another way of saying no one is

What if there are not 10 films worthy of a nomination? What do you think of the news? Have we seen any films in the first half of the year that should be nominated for Best Picture - Moon, The Hurt Locker, Let the Right One In?

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Who will win the 2010 Oscars?

The 2009 Oscars have come and gone, but the movie industry rumbles ever onwards. Pam (thanks again) sent me the link to a great article on The Ampersand (love that word, great name for a monkey!)

In it they talk about what could possibly win at next years Oscars. Obviously it is a way off and there will be plenty of films out between now and then, but this is what they have come up with for some of the awards.

Best Animated Feature

Coraline -- This stop-motion pic has already garnered the critical acclaim; it's probably a safe bet to snag a nomination.

Up -- It's the latest from Pixar, which means a nomination is all-but-guaranteed.

Monsters vs. Aliens -- The use of 3D technology -- it's supposed to be jaw-dropping -- might push it into contention.

9 -- Shane Acker's post-apocalyptic epic has some big names behind it, including Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov (Wanted). Plus, the animated short it is based on snagged an Academy Award nomination in 2005, which means it has the right pedigree.

Best Director

Martin Scorsese -- Ashecliffe -- Although we prefer the film's original title, Shutter Island, you can never discount Scorsese.

Michael Mann -- Public Enemies -- See the above category of Best Actor. With a cast that includes Depp and Bale, this will be a film worth watching. Mann is always solid.

James Cameron -- Avatar -- Cameron's first feature film in over a decade, this film is going to be huge. The buzz is Avatar may be a game-changer, a film that changes the way we watch movies. It may be too sci-fi to garner a Best Picture nomination, but if I were a betting man a Best Director nomination for Cameron would be a worthy gamble.

Best Picture

Where The Wild Things Are -- We have absolutely no evidence to back this up, except for the hope that Spike Jonze, Dave Eggers, and everyone else can pull off this long-delayed adaptation of the children's classic.

Nine -- No, not 9, the animated feature mentioned above. Nine. Yes, this is going to be confusing. The Academy loves musicals, loves Rob Marshall, and the cast includes Daniel Day-Lewis, Nicole Kidman, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson Judi Dench, and Sophia Loren. Oh, and Fergie. Can't forget Fergie.

The Lovely Bones -- Recipe for a Best Picture: take an acclaimed novel about a young girl who's brutally murdered and follows her murder investigation from Heaven. Hire an Oscar-winning screenwriting team to adapt the book; mix in an Oscar-winning director -- Peter Jackson -- and sprinkle with a cast that includes Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, and Mark Wahlberg. Yeah, I like it's chances too.

Check out the rest of the article for their thoughts on best actor and actress.

What films do you think will be in the running for next years Oscars and what don't have a hope in hell?

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