James Cameron’s masterpiece `Avatar` received 9 nominations.
According to AP, this is the first time since 1943 that Oscar has 10 films nominated for Best Picture, compared to the usual 5 films.
Competing with `Avatar` and `The Hurt Locker` in the Best Picture category are: `District 9`;
Both `Avatar` and `The Hurt Locker` have won many previous film awards.
As for Kathryn Bigelow’s work on the war on terrorism, it surpassed James’s `brainchild`, winning the director’s award at the Directors Guild of America Awards and the title of Best Film at the Producers Guild of America awards.
Not far behind is Kathryn Bigelow’s `The Hurt Locker`, which also received 9 nominations.
In Oscar history, Kathryn Bigelow is the fourth woman to be nominated for the title of Best Director.
Also competing for Outstanding Director are Jason Reitman for `Up in the Air,` Quentin Tarantino for `Inglourious Basterds` and Lee Daniels for `Precious.`
Popular actress Sandra Bullock has never been nominated for an Oscar, but this year, she is considered a strong candidate to receive the golden statue for her role in `The Blind Side`.
Director James Cameron and his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow.
`Miss FBI` will compete in the Best Actress category with two veteran Oscar winners, Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren, and two first-time nominees Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe.
2010 Golden Globe winner Jeff Bridges – who has been nominated four times but has never touched the Oscar statuette – is on the list of contenders in the Best Actor category for his role in `Crazy Heart.`
His `rivals` are famous actors George Clooney, Morgan Freeman, Colin Firth and Jeremy Renner.
The beauties nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category are Mo’Nique, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Penelope Cruz and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
The Oscars ceremony will take place on March 7 at the Kodak Theater, Los Angeles, USA.
* List of Oscar nominations 2010
Thanh Huong
