News » Make Your Picks in RT's Oscar Poll!

Make Your Picks in RT's Oscar Poll!

Sweep the predictions, RT faithful!

by David Chung | Friday, Mar. 05 2010
66 comments

Oscar Poll

Over three months ago, we raised our tomato-shaped anchor and set sail through the cinematic province affectionately known as Awards Tour. And this coming Sunday, March 7, we reach journey's end: the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Amidst all the nomination chaos, you, our knowledgeable reader, have been voting all season long on the movies and stars you thought should take home the trophies.

Now show your supernatural talents of awards clairvoyance one more time for the biggest show of them all. Read on to vote in polls for all of the major categories, along with background on their races so far.

In addition, RT's Editor-in-Chief Matt Atchity will be attending the Oscars ceremony, providing live Twitter updates to be found on our Awards Tour page and of course, on Twitter. And using your Facebook account, you'll be able to share reactions live with RT staffers and readers during the broadcast.

While RT will be here for your dual screen viewing, we know you'll be watching the show with your other friends (we're not offended). That's why we've whipped up this snazzy Oscar ballot for you and your "real-life" friends to print and follow along with during Sunday's telecast.

So vote now and stay with us during Sunday's telecast! We're looking upon you to collectively predict the winners of the biggest awards at this year's Oscars! Will RT users be able to sweep this year's predictions? All shall be revealed March 7!

Best Picture

Despite having ten nominees this year for the first time, the race for Best Picture appears to have three clear standouts. Up in the Air got off a strong start this season with Best Feature honors from both the National Board of Review and Washington D.C. Film Critics, but more recently, much attention has been paid to Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq war drama The Hurt Locker and James Cameron's record-smashing Avatar. The Hurt Locker was named Best Feature by Boston and Los Angeles critics' societies, the National Society of Film Critics, along with the Broadcast Film Association via the Critics' Choice Awards. After taking moviegoers on a trip through Pandora, Avatar won Best Motion Picture - Drama at the Golden Globes, along with Best Picture from New York's online film critics. With these three films being clear standouts from the pack, do any of the seven other nominees, including Golden Tomato winner Up and surprise nominee The Blind Side, stand a chance at taking home the night's biggest award?


Avatar
Avatar
82%


An Education
An Education
94%


The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker
98%


Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds
88%


The Blind Side
The Blind Side
70%


District 9
District 9
90%


Precious
Precious
91%


A Serious Man
A Serious Man
87%


Up
Up
98%


Up in the Air
Up in the Air
90%


Best Director

Going into the Oscars, the competition for Best Director has a clear leader in terms of momentum, but a recent high profile win for a little sci-fi blockbuster certainly keeps the category interesting this year. Outside of a Best Director win for Clint Eastwood's Invictus from the National Board of Review and a buzzworthy win at the Golden Globes for James Cameron's Avatar, director Kathryn Bigelow has taken home nearly every Best Director honor available for the prestigious award, including a win from her peers in the Directors Guild. But despite Bigelow's dominance of the category this season, it feels tough to count out Cameron, Quentin Tarantino's work on Inglourious Basterds, or even past Best Director nominee Jason Reitman for the award. Relative director newcomer Lee Daniels certainly made himself a much better known name this year with Precious, which previously shined at Sundance under its original name Push: Based on the novel by Sapphire. If this season's past awards are any indicator, anything other than a Bigelow win would be considered a huge upset, but Best Director could prove an interesting platform for a surprise win.


Avatar
Avatar
(James Cameron)
82%


The Hurt Locker
The Hurt Locker
(Kathryn Bigelow)
98%


Inglourious Basterds
Inglourious Basterds
(Quentin Tarantino)
88%


Up In The Air
Up In The Air
(Jason Reitman)
90%


Precious
Precious
(Lee Daniels)
91%

Comments

RamALamADingDong

RamALamADingDong on 03-1-2010 08:34 PM

My picks:

Best Picture - District 9
Animated Feature Film - Up
Art Direction - Sherlock Holmes
Cinematography - Avatar
Directing - Avatar
Documentary (Feature) - Food, Inc.
Film Editing - District 9
Music (Original Score) - Sherlock Holmes
Sound Editing - Avatar
Sound Mixing - Avatar
Visual Effects - Avatar (if it doesn't win this there is no justice)
Writing (Adapted Screenplay) - District 9
Writing (Original Screenplay) - Up

Over the Rising Sun

Over the Rising Sun on 03-2-2010 05:13 PM

I just really want to see Quentin Tarantino's face when he doesn't win Best Director.

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-1-2010 08:58 PM

under the category of Best film it must either be Inglorious Basterds or District 9 that should be winning. Hurt locker has a good Making but the substance that is in these two above stated films are lacking in Hurt locker. its Just an episode of a bomb diffuser and nothing more than that. I feel Hurt Locker receiving BAFTA is itself a mesh....

While speaking about District 9 really a different concept of Alien film, that too for an debutant director like Neill Blomkamp its really a worth giving. But animated films like UP taking part in the race is not an healthy thing.

James Cameron's heavy budget Avatar can be awarded only for its Visual effects and The Director can be awarded for his toiling effort all the 14 years and for the Production design as well.

jamie j.

jamie j. on 03-1-2010 09:21 PM

Agreed, The hurt locker is certainly not better than Inglorious Basterds or District 9.

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-1-2010 08:59 PM

under the category of Best film it must either be Inglorious Basterds or District 9 that should be winning. Hurt locker has a good Making but the substance that is in these two above stated films are lacking in Hurt locker. its Just an episode of a bomb diffuser and nothing more than that. I feel Hurt Locker receiving BAFTA is itself a mesh....

While speaking about District 9 really a different concept of Alien film, that too for an debutant director like Neill Blomkamp its really a worth giving. But animated films like UP taking part in the race is not an healthy thing.

James Cameron's heavy budget Avatar can be awarded only for its Visual effects and The Director can be awarded for his toiling effort all the 14 years and for the Production design as well.

Jose V.

Jose V. on 03-1-2010 09:39 PM

So, , Rizwan, your reason for considering Up a bad candidate for the award is the fact that it is an animated movie. Animated, far better movie than any other candidate. District 9, a different concept of alien films; racism using aliens. A great movie, but different concept? It's like Avatar, Pocahontas with blue natives. I really don't think that being an animated movie must be a non-candidate for Best Picture. The price awards, precisely, the Best Picture, not the Best Human Acted Different-Concept-Of-The-Same Picture. The Academy does not gives "Best Music for animated Film", or "Best Script for an animated feature"; It gives "Best Picture", the best MOVIE. And you are underrating offensively all the animated movies. THAT is not "healthy".

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-2-2010 12:54 AM

ya i agree with your view about AVATAR and i don't say that UP is a bad candidate only because its an Animated film but more than it being an animated film but the substance is good. My only query is if UP is considered as a Best Motion Picture then why is it also in Best Animated film too.... if u have the answer for my query please let me know..

But Thanks for your views Mr. Jose

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-2-2010 12:56 AM

ya i agree with your view about AVATAR and i don't say that UP is a bad candidate only because its an Animated film but more than it being an animated film but the substance is good. My only query is if UP is considered as a Best Motion Picture then why is it also in Best Animated film too.... if u have the answer for my query please let me know..

But Thanks for your views Mr. Jose

Jose V.

Jose V. on 03-1-2010 09:30 PM

It's time animated movies stop being so underrated. Up is a better movie in every aspect than any other. Avatar is the same thinking behind Pocahontas and Dance with Wolves plus a godlike vision of nature; Distric 9 is an amazing movie, so is Unglorious Basterds and Precious, all of them a rethinking of another subject. This is not disacrediting at all; in fact, this movies would win Best Picture Academy Awards any year; but Up is simply the best movie. It's only "problem": It's an animated movie; underrated, "made for kids", "childish"... Stop underrating movies only because they are animated. Up deserves this Award much more than any other candidate.

BatsInTheBelfry

BatsInTheBelfry on 03-1-2010 09:56 PM

I want Hurt Locker to win Best Picture, it wasn't my very favorite of '09, but it was my favorite of the films that were nominated, barely edging out District 9. Some other posters have said it doesn't have a plot, but that's not what kind of movie it is. It's a character study, like The Conversation, plots are unimportant because the plot IS the character. I think all four of the acting awards are basically sealed up, I think we all know who will win in each category, whether we want them to or not.

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-2-2010 12:55 AM

ya i agree with your view about AVATAR and i don't say that UP is a bad candidate only because its an Animated film but more than it being an animated film but the substance is good. My only query is if UP is considered as a Best Motion Picture then why is it also in Best Animated film too.... if u have the answer for my query please let me know..

But Thanks for your views Mr. Jose

Chris L.

Chris L. on 03-1-2010 11:24 PM

Best Picture is between The Hurt Locker and Avatar, which is kinda sickening to me in a way. I mean, sure, Avatar is pretty monumental, but everyone knows the reason why Avatar didn't get a screenplay nom was because it's script was rather crappy. The only reason this movie even has the strength it does is because for the past few years the Academy has been giving this prize to films no one's really ever heard of (raise your hand if you can honestly say you saw Slumdog before the 2009 noms), and The Hurt Locker is one of these marginalized films. The big, juicy, billion-dollar Avatar is looking quite plump in comparison, and I'm just hoping it won't prove too tantalizing for the Academy to throw the award to Cameron's way simply for more audience appeal and to pick up the sagging ratings.

In the end though I won't care too much. It's the shorts - both Live and Animated - that are the real exciting features this year.

RamALamADingDong

RamALamADingDong on 03-1-2010 11:50 PM

That's funny, no one I've read or seen seems to favor Avatar above anyone else.

Even the above poll favors Hurt Locker. The only reason some polls favor Avatar is probably because it's a popular movie at the moment. It's the same logic behind The Dark Knight getting the #1 spot on IMDb. Doesn't mean TDK was the greatest, it means that at the time people favored it. Even now it's slowly making its way down.

Most critics seem to say either Hurt Locker or Up in the Air.

DG

DG on 03-2-2010 12:54 AM

The Hurt Locker is much more than "people diffusing bombs" for those of you who think that. It 100% deserves to take home the Oscar for Best Picture and most likely will. My personal favorite out of the list is Inglourious Basterds and it would be nice to see it sneak a win, but the fact of the matter is the line-up this year is just way to tough and The Hurt Locker will take home the much deserved Oscar for Best Picture and Best Director.

Rizwan Rafiudeen.

Rizwan Rafiudeen. on 03-2-2010 01:01 AM

DG what i felt was Inglorious Basterds is more worthy than Hurt Locker, The thing about it is Hurt Locker does'nt have a plot that makes the audience stick to their seats....

Revor

Revor on 03-2-2010 01:20 AM

The Hurt Locker has as much right to win an Oscar as a Bond movie, because that's how realistic it is. I admire some elements of the film, but having been in the military there were just too many elements that were laughable and couldn't be taken seriously. I really hope it doesn't win because it was too much fiction (for a movie professing to express reality).

Sean P.

Sean P. on 03-2-2010 01:29 AM

I can't believe people think Avatar deserves best picture. The Hurt Locker is the only correct choice out of those nominees

Tom v.

Tom v. on 03-2-2010 04:56 AM

As it stands now, its a 2 man battle between Avatar and Hurt Locker, and Hurt Locker is easily the better film. I've watched both and while I like Avatar a lot, I just don't want it to win Best Picture, the compitition is simply better than that movie.

Daniel M.

Daniel M. on 03-2-2010 05:33 AM

Its going to be Hurt Locker for Best Picture and Cameron for best Director.

Daniel M.

Daniel M. on 03-2-2010 05:39 AM

Actually I haven't seen Precious and because of the subject matter and talk of the strong performances I could see it getting the upset and taking BP.

gigaherc

gigaherc on 03-2-2010 06:46 AM

All movies nominated for Oscar are not good enough. But I'm sorry, when it comes to Hurt Locker vs. Avatar, HL seems like poor man's Deer Hunter and Avatar... well it's pure entertaining movie making and it is surely better than HL.

I won't even mention IB which was the worse QT movie. Others are added so randomly (UP?!?!?!! - the weakest Pixar effort) or undeserving (D9 - console game plot would've make a better movie).

So yes it comes to two movies. And I don't know about you but I'm sick of Iraq war movies after all these years.

I bet on James. All my money.

pjim

pjim on 03-3-2010 08:17 PM

It's really tough to pick because of the variety of the films nominated. So I base my opinion on what makes the most lasting impact. I liked Avatar for its unbelievable special effects in 3D. Would it have make the same impression in 2D? I don't think so. I liked the Hurt Locker but it seems to me it lacked substance. Still an excellent show. I liked UP but it still seemed like I was watching a cartoon, unlike Wall-E from last year that was an incredible movie that sucked me into another world. That leaves me seriously considering District 9 and Inglorious Basterds. This is pretty much a toss up for me but my gut feeling says that District 9 comes out on top for me. Yes, it has the underlying racism factor but that is part of what makes this a special movie. The artistic technique along with the excellent acting combined with the special effects makes for a terrific and entertaining movie.

dvbath

dvbath on 03-4-2010 08:25 PM

Million Dollar Baby is the best movie of all time, IMHO...I know, a little off track and the wrong year, but I just had to comment...

Ish420

Ish420 on 03-2-2010 06:55 AM

There are some great nominees this year. I'm glad they expanded the field to 10 movies. I just realized that aside from a couple of films I havent seen anything that is nominated. I need to get on top of things. :-)

Monty P.

Monty P. on 03-2-2010 07:02 AM

There isn't a more dramatic story line this year than Bigelow vs Cameron for Best Picture. The two were once lovers, then married and then divorced likely because of his infidelity. Now the embattled Bigelow wants her revenge in form of an Oscar, and she will get it. I'm hesitant to think though that The Hurt Locker would be any good if it weren't for Renner. He was really terrific.

Bjornar

Bjornar on 03-4-2010 06:01 AM

Bigelow wants her revenge in the form of an Oscar?? Wow, that is a very complicated revenge plot--she must have really been planning in the long term for that one.

I'll unabashedly put my vote for Avatar for best picture. I've gone Oscar darling before (Million Dollar Baby) but grand-movie-experience-adventure film is a valid form of cinema and Avatar had that in spades.

Cory B.

Cory B. on 03-2-2010 08:55 AM

I wouldn't be surprised if this is one of those rare years where they split the Best Picture and Director Awards up between two films. Avatar and Hurt Locker are the two front runners. I think one of them will get Best Picture and the other Best Director.

I know there are a lot of fans of District 9 and Basterds on RT, so let me just break the bad news to them now: neither has a chance of getting Best Picture. Basterds will get Supporting Actor and maybe the screenplay win. I'm sure the Academy will throw D9 a bone too, but not any major award.

Michael W.

Michael W. on 03-2-2010 09:19 AM

Looks like Avatar might win it. Though I did enjoy the Hurt Locker. I have no idea why the Blindside was even nominated.

Caleb L.

Caleb L. on 03-2-2010 09:30 AM

Avatar was entertaining at times...usually when the actors weren't talking and you could just take in the 3-D effects, but Avatar really doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell with coming away with any major award other than visual effects, It hasn't won any major Guild awards this awards season(the Golden Globe is a joke in the Entertainment community....has been for years)I don't see how it can win anything other than technical awards, look at the trends, it's practically gauranteed.....oh yeah, everyone talks about how Cameron did it with Titanic not winning an original screenplay award...not going to happen again...I think there are going to be alot of dissapointed Avatar fans, but then of course if it loses you can always revert to the same old arguement that the Oscars are biased and meaningless and don't mean a thing.

moviefan2006

moviefan2006 on 03-2-2010 10:57 AM

Here are my pics:
Best Picture: The Hurt Locker
Best Supporting Actor: Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds)
Best Animated Film: Up
Best Director: Kathryn Bigelow
Best Visual Effects: Avatar
Best Original Screenplay: Up
Best Adapted Screenplay: Up
Best Art Direction: Avatar

Splitter

Splitter on 03-2-2010 11:33 AM

Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow
Jeff Bridges
Sandra Bullock
Christoph Waltz
Mo'Nique

I'm being a pragmatist this year. I'm tired of being let down.

Christopher256G

Christopher256G on 03-2-2010 12:23 PM

Whatever wins best picture, The Hurt Locker, Avatar, or the substantial longshot Inglorious Basterds, it will be a better movie than what won BP for 2000, 2001, and 2005. The Hurt Locker if it wins would in my opinion be the second best Best Picture winner in the decade behind Return of the King.

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