District 9: Daring, violent, action-packed, thought provoking, gory, deeply moving, and filled with robots and aliens. When was the last time a movie managed to do all that at once? Simply an awesome movie, and one that deserves to break the long history of Academy sci-fi snubs (but probably won’t).

Avatar: As it grew in popularity, the film elitist in me was tempted to renounce it as brainless drivel fit only for the unwashed masses. The reality, though, is that I really enjoyed the flick, despite its hamfisted preachiness and less-than-complex plot. It’s kind of like Apple products, which, admittedly, I frequently loathe: simple, lacking advanced features, but beautiful and broadly accessible all the same. Maybe I’m less of a film elitist than I thought.

Up in the Air – I bet gets best screenplay and advances Reitman into the ring of potential winners in the years ahead.

Hurt Locker – Nabs it. Where it missed in the Globes it will reign supreme here. It can’t get passed up twice.

Avatar – JESUS, I hope doesn’t win again.

I.B. – Agreed. This is just beautiful cinema. I think it has a place in fan culture more than an award in its future.