Avatar, Hurt Locker lead Oscar nominations

Avatar and The Hurt Locker are facing off for best picture and best director in the 82nd Academy Awards.

It's a predictable contest, with James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow — ex-husband and ex-wife — both up for the directing positions. No woman has ever won the award.

There were a few curves announced Tuesday in the best picture category, which also includes the crowd-pleaser The Blind Side, the low-budget sci-fi hit District 9, the dark Coen brothers film A Serious Man, the animated film Up, as well as An Education, Inglorious Basterds, Precious, and Up in the Air, the early favourite, before Avatar came on the scene.

Other best director nominees were also surprising: Quentin Tarantino, Lee Daniels and Jason Reitman all made it but perennial academy darling Clint Eastwood was snubbed.

For best actor, the nominees are Jeff Bridges — who is favoured to win — George Clooney, Colin Firth, Morgan Freeman and Jeremy Renner, the dark horse star of The Hurt Locker.

Best actress nominees are Sandra Bullock — who won the Golden Globe in this category — Helen Mirren, Carey Mulligan, Gabourey Sibide and Meryl Streep for her role in Julie & Julia.

Best supporting actor nominees are Matt Damon for Invictus, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci (for the Lovely Bones, rather than Julie & Julia) and overwhelming favourite Christoph Waltz.

For supporting actress, along with the probable winner Mo'Nique, are Penelope Cruz, Vera Fermiga and Anna Kendrick (both from Up in the Air) and Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The Oscars will be handed out March 7.

Best Picture: (Click on the title to read the review)

Avatar

Inglourious Basterds

Up in the Air

The Hurt Locker

Precious

Up

An Education

A Serious Man

The Blind Side

District 9

Best Director:

Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker

James Cameron, Avatar

Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Quentin Tarantino, Inglourious Basterds

Lee Daniels, Precious

Best Actor:

Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart

George Clooney, Up in the Air

Morgan Freeman, Invictus

Colin Firth, A Single Man

Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Best Actress:

Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Carey Mulligan, An Education

Helen Mirren, The Last Station

Gabourey Sidibe, Precious

Best Supporting Actor:

Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones

Christopher Plummer, The Last Station

Woody Harrelson, The Messenger

Matt Damon (Invictus)

Best Supporting Actress:

Mo'Nique, Precious

Anna Kendrick, Up in the Air

Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air

Penelope Cruz (Nine)

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart

Best Adapted Screenplay:

An Education, Nick Hornby

District 9, Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

Precious, Geoffrey Fletcher

Up in the Air, Jason Rietman and Sheldon Turner

In the Loop, Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci and Tony Roche

Best Original Screenplay:

THe Hurt Locker, Mark Boal

Inglorious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino

A Serious Man, Joel and Ethan Coen

Up, Bob Peterson and Pete Docter

The Messenger, Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman

Animated Feature:

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Up