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‘Avatar,’ ‘Hurt Locker’ With 9 Oscar Nominations

“Avatar” and “The Hurt Locker” lead the Academy Awards with nine nominations each, including Oscar’s biggest honor: best picture.

The films, directed by former spouses James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow, are two of 10 best picture nominations. The Academy Awards have not featured that many nominations in the category since 1943. Other films to receive Oscar’s highest honor include Quentin Tarantino’s War War II take “Inglorious Basterds,” “District 9,” “Up in the Air,” the sports drama “The Blind Side,” Disney-Pixar’s animated feature “Up,” “An Education,” “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” and Joel and Ethan Coen’s “A Serious Man.”

Jeff Bridges (“Crazy Heart”), George Clooney (“Up in the Air”), Colin Firth (“A Single Man”), Morgan Freeman (“Invictus”) and Jeremy Renner (“The Hurt Locker”) were nominated for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Sandra Bullock receives a nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in the surprising football drama “The Blind Side.” Helen Mirren (“The Last Station”), Carey Mulligan (“An Education”), Gabourey Sidibe (“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”) and Meryl Streep (“Julie & Julia”) round out the nominees.

Along with Bigelow and Cameron, Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”), Quentin Tarantino (“Inglorious Basterds”) and Lee Daniels (“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”) were nominated for Best Director.

Matt Damon has a opportunity to add another Oscar to his collection being nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in “Invictus.” Woody Harrelson (“The Messenger”), Christopher Plummer (“The Last Station”), Stanley Tucci (“The Lovely Bones”) and Christoph Waltz (“Inglorious Basterds”) round out the nominations.

In the race for Best Actress in a Supporting Role include Penelope Cruz (“Nine”), Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Crazy Heart”), Anna Kendrick (“Up in the Air”) and Mo’ Nique (“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire”).

For more on the Academy Award nominations, visit www.oscars.org.

Look for podcasts and posts, soon, on our favorite films of 2009.

Link to Hurt Locker Photo

Link to Avatar Main Photo

Link to Avatar Photo

Tags: A Single Man, Academy Awards, An Education, Avatar, Christoph Waltz, District 9, Inglorious Basterds, Oscars, Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side, The Hurt Locker, Up, Up in the Air Filed under: Featured, Movies