Avatar “in terms of conception and execution this is, for me, the best picture achievement”

The Blind Side

District 9

An Education

The Hurt Locker

Inglourious Basterds

Precious

A Serious Man

Up

Up in the Air

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow
‘The Hurt Locker’

James Cameron
‘Avatar’ “Kathryn Bigelow may be the best choice, but I’m so enamored of Cameron’s work    that I really choose this – it’s a toughie…”

Lee Daniels
‘Precious’

Jason Reitman
‘Up in the Air’ “And, this film, is an extraordinary achievement, and one of my favorites as well. I’m also using this as a teaching film.”

Quentin Tarantino
‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Animated Feature Film

Coraline

Fantastic Mr. Fox

The Princess and the Frog

The Secret of Kells

Up ” There’s so much humanity here —”

Best Foreign Language Film

‘Ajami’
Israel

‘El Secreto de Sus Ojos’
Argentina

‘The Milk of Sorrow’
Peru

‘Un Prophète’
France

‘The White Ribbon’
Germany “written and directed by one of my former students – Michael Hanake”

Jeff Bridges
‘Crazy Heart’  “I think he’s the sentimental choice as he’s done such great work over the years.”

George Clooney
‘Up in the Air’

Colin Firth
A Single Man’

Morgan Freeman
‘Invictus’

Jeremy Renner
‘The Hurt Locker’

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock
‘The Blind Side’ “Again, she’s finally being recognized “

Helen Mirren
‘The Last Station’

Carey Mulligan
‘An Education’

Gabourey Sidibe
‘Precious’

Meryl Streep
‘Julie & Julia’

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon
‘Invictus’

Woody Harrelson
‘The Messenger’

Christopher Plummer
‘The Last Station’ “he’s such an extraordinary actor and this really showcases his talents.”

Stanley Tucci
‘The Lovely Bones’

Christoph Waltz
‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz
‘Nine’

Vera Farmiga
‘Up in the Air’ “She does a really great job -”

Maggie Gyllenhaal
‘Crazy Heart’

Anna Kendrick
‘Up in the Air’

Mo’nique
‘Precious’

Mark Boal
‘The Hurt Locker’ “Tough, original and powerful, though I like Up as well.”

Quentin Tarantino
‘Inglourious Basterds’

Alessandro Camon and Oren Moverman
‘The Messenger’

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
‘A Serious Man’

Peter Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy
‘Up’

Best Adapted Screenplay

Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell
‘District 9′

Nick Hornby
‘An Education’

Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche
‘In the Loop’

Geoffrey Fletcher
‘Precious’

Jason Reitman, Sheldon Turner
‘Up in the Air’   “In my book, the best”