The Oscar Noms Have the Surprises

As expected, 10, not five, 2009 films were nominated for a Best Picture Oscar bright and early this morning, but as unexpected, the list included The Blind Side.

That’s a title that I don’t think I’d heard being tossed around at all as a potential going into the 82nd Annual Academy Awards to be handed out on March 7.

I certainly think the movie has its merits, chief among them, of course, its now-Best Actress frontrunner Sandra Bullock. But I think it’s more of a Top 25 movie, you know.

I’m still glad to see it in the mix, though – it has added a cloud of unpredictability to the Oscar race, and cemented Bullock’s chances for a win given that she was the best part of the movie. Combined with her all-time-high popularity, the great Meryl Streep will have a tough time beating her for the gold.

Speaking of Streep, she earned her bajillionth nomination for Julie & Julia. OK, so she only extended her own record to No. 16, which made her feel “proud,” and cemented her rep as the greatest living actress, which is another reason why Bullock, who claimed she’ll need “some liposuction” to get ready for the big night, has my vote.

Anyway, Avatar and The Hurt Locker led all nominees with nine nods apiece, including Best Picture and Best Director for ex-husband-and-wife-team James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, respectively.

District 9 sneaked into the race, edging out Star Trek, as did A Serious Man, and Up became only the second animated film ever to score a Best Picture nod (it’s also up for Best Animated Film).

The Best Actor race remains Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart) to lose, while the love he’s been shown this season must’ve rubbed off on co-star Maggie Gyllenhaal, who received a Best Supporting Actress nomination.

And Christoph Waltz and Mo’Nique may as well collect their hardware for Inglourious Basterds and Precious, already.

Last but not least, I was thrilled to learn that Peru’s La Teta Asustada is up for a Best Foreign Film Oscar – a first for my home country. Thrilled, I tell ya. (Now, where can I rent it?)

Photo: Warner Bros. (The Blind Side).