March 3, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • Page 17 Film critic predicts this year’s Oscar winners by Dennis Seuling There are 5,777 members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These are the folks who cast the votes that will determine the 2010 Oscar winners. It is a fairly small group, composed entirely of actors, directors, producers, cinematographers, and other technical personnel. An Oscar can mean increased box office dollars for films still in theaters and a rush of rentals for titles on DVD and Blu-ray. Following are this critic’s picks for the actors, director, and film I believe the Academy will select for its greatest honor. The Supporting Actress Oscar nominees are Penelope Cruz (“Nine”), Vera Farmiga (“Up in the Air”), Maggie Gyllenhaal (“Crazy Heart”), Anna Kendrick (“Up in the Air’), and Mo’nique (“Precious”). Cruz is part of a large ensemble and does not have enough screen time to merit the Oscar. Farmiga and Kendrick, though both excellent as the women in George Clooney’s much-traveled life, do not have the depth of characterization required of an Oscar winner. Gyllenhaal is overshadowed by the terrific performance of Jeff Bridges in “Crazy Heart.” That leaves Mo’nique, a comedienne who created a devastating portrait of a bitterly destructive, abusive mother -- one of the most notorious villains the screen has seen in years. Her unforgettable, often frightening performance will snag her this year’s Oscar. In the Supporting Actor category, we can rule out Matt Damon as the South African rugby team captain who rallies his team and country in the overrated “Invictus.” He mastered the Afrikaans accent, but that is his job. The performance is unexceptional. Stanley Tucci as the child molester in “Lovely Bones” will turn off voters by the creepy nature of the role, and the fact that the film tanked at the box office will further diminish his chances. Christopher Plummer as the difficult, older Leo Tolstoy Jeff Bridges has been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Bad Blake in ‘Crazy Heart.’ K IRK E RS INN TOP GERMAN AMERICAN RESTAURANT IN BERGEN & PASSAIC COUNTIES Sauerbrauten • Schnitzels • Bavarian Sausages Goulash • Potato Pancakes • Dumplings Spaetzel and more. GERMAN FULL BEERS ON TAP Plus Our Regular Menu • Reservations Suggested Schnitzelfest - March 4, 5, 6 & 8TH in “The Last Station” and Woody Harrelson as an officer who must deliver bad news to families of soldiers killed in action in “The Messenger” were seen in limited engagements and never attracted a wide audience. Ordinarily, that fact alone would not dash their chances, but this year they are up against insurmountable competition: Christoph Waltz in “Inglourious Basterds.” Waltz portrayed multilingual Colonel Hans Landa with a combination of studied politeness, detective-like interrogation skills, an undertone of violence, and a touch of humor. Waltz was previously unknown in this country, having worked mostly in European films, but his performance as Landa will win him a well-deserved gold statuette. For Best Actress, let’s start by eliminating Helen Mirren and Carey Mulligan for “The Last Station” and “An Education,” respectively, simply because of the tough competition they are facing. Newcomer Gabourey Sidibe turns in a heart-rending performance as the title character in “Precious,” but because her co-star Mo’nique has the showier role, Sidibe will not make a trip up to the stage to receive an Oscar. Meryl Streep (“Julie & Julia”) was outstanding as Julia Child in postwar Paris, co-writing and shepherding to publication “The Art of French Cooking.” Streep’s chameleon-like ability to become her characters is never more evident than in this film. This is Streep’s 16th nomination, and she has won twice. Ordinarily, Sandra Bullock would not even appear as a nominee in this category, but her performance as a tough, independent white woman who takes in a young black man and makes a home for him extended her dramatic range and showed her off in a new light. Academy voters like to see a popular star move on to weightier material (think Julia Roberts in “Erin Brockovich”). Bullock will take home the Oscar. 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