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  3. Oscars 2010: 25 Longshots We Love

Oscars 2010: 25 Longshots We Love

Dark-horse films and actors whose names we'd love to hear when Academy Award nominees are announced on Feb. 2
By Dave Karger Updated November 11, 2009 at 06:00 PM EST
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BEST PICTURE

An Education, Carey Mulligan, ... | AN EDUCATION on DVD The PG-13-rated film set in not-quite-swinging London is worth seeing for About a Boy author Nick Hornby's fantastic script and irresistible…
Credit: Kerry Brown

An Education

The British coming-of-age drama boasts a dream cast (including Emma Thompson, Sally Hawkins, and Peter Sarsgaard) and a wonderful screenplay by novelist Nick Hornby. It's a sure bet in the Best Actress (Carey Mulligan) and Best Supporting Actor (Alfred Molina) categories but may lack the overall appeal to make the cut for Best Picture.

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BEST PICTURE

It's Complicated, Alec Baldwin, ... | Romantic comedy ­auteur Nancy Meyers ( Something's Gotta Give ) directs a grown-up romp that follows a ­divorcee (Meryl Streep), her ex-husband (Alec Baldwin), and…
Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon

It's Complicated

The Academy rarely goes for comedy in the biggest races. But with 10 slots this year, Nancy Meyers' grown-up love story featuring the triumvirate of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin could sneak in.

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BEST PICTURE

A Single Man, Colin Firth, ... | Check out A Single Man to prepare for one of Oscar night's most interesting races: Best Actor. Jeff Bridges seems to be a lock for…
Credit: Eduard Grau

A Single Man

Naysayers will carp that fashion designer Tom Ford's filmmaking debut is ''too gay'' to score a Best Picture nomination. But its gorgeous visuals and remarkable performances from Colin Firth and Julianne Moore will significantly raise its profile.

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BEST PICTURE

Star Trek, Chris Pine, ... | Star Trek This year's super-sized Best Picture race opens the door for a bona fide blockbuster to join the biopics and war dramas that usually…

Star Trek

This year's super-sized Best Picture race opens the door for a bona fide blockbuster to join the biopics and war dramas that usually catch the Academy's eye. District 9 and The Hangover are other possibilities, but J.J. Abrams' critically-acclaimed sci-fi reboot ticks the most Oscar boxes.

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BEST PICTURE

Where the Wild Things Are | The reaction to Spike Jonze's colorfully anarchic adaptation of Maurice Sendak's beloved picture book has been impassioned, both pro and con. That's all the proof…

Where the Wild Things Are

Spike Jonze's quirky, spare retelling of Maurice Sendak's classic children's book earned some rapturous reviews but left many viewers scratching their heads. If the Academy is feeling adventurous, they could reward Jonze's vision. The question is whether they're on board with it.

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BEST ACTOR

Paul Bettany | Paul Bettany, Creation The British character actor stars with his real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly, in this biographical drama about controversial author-scientist Charles Darwin. Politics aside,…
Credit: Liam Daniel

Paul Bettany, Creation

The British character actor stars with his real-life wife, Jennifer Connelly, in this biographical drama about controversial author-scientist Charles Darwin. Politics aside, it's a heartbreaking performance that will tug at the heartstrings of any voter who happens to be a parent.

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BEST ACTOR

The Messenger, Ben Foster | Ben Foster, The Messenger The 29-year-old TV and movie vet ( Six Feet Under , X-Men: The Last Stand ) tackles the most challenging role…

Ben Foster, The Messenger

The 29-year-old TV and movie vet (Six Feet Under, X-Men: The Last Stand) tackles the most challenging role of his career as a soldier just back from Iraq whose new duty is with the Army's Casualty Notification service. It's a raw turn from an impressive young actor.

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BEST ACTOR

Viggo Mortensen, The Road | Viggo Mortensen, The Road It's not as showy as his nominated performance in Eastern Promises , but Mortensen's turn as a dad protecting his son…
Credit: Macall Polay

Viggo Mortensen, The Road

It's not as showy as his nominated performance in Eastern Promises, but Mortensen's turn as a dad protecting his son in a post-apocalyptic world anchors a tough film to watch with relatable emotion.

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BEST ACTOR

The Boys Are Back, Clive Owen | Clive Owen, The Boys Are Back Owen, a past supporting-actor nominee for Closer , seemed a strong contender going into the Toronto film festival. But…
Credit: Matt Nettheim

Clive Owen, The Boys Are Back

Owen, a past supporting-actor nominee for Closer, seemed a strong contender going into the Toronto film festival. But lukewarm reviews for the film seem to have overshadowed his subtle performance as a single father.

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BEST ACTOR

The Damned United, Michael Sheen | Michael Sheen, The Damned United After playing Tony Blair in The Queen and David Frost in Frost/Nixon , Sheen brilliantly embodies another British celebrity —…
Credit: Laurie Sparham

Michael Sheen, The Damned United

After playing Tony Blair in The Queen and David Frost in Frost/Nixon, Sheen brilliantly embodies another British celebrity — this time it's cocky football coach Brian Clough. The challenge will be getting the Academy to care about this very British story.

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BEST ACTRESS

Emily Blunt | Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria She stole scenes from Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada . Now Blunt carries her own film, playing a…
Credit: Liam Daniel

Emily Blunt, The Young Victoria

She stole scenes from Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada. Now Blunt carries her own film, playing a teenage Queen Victoria with convincing forthrightness. If enough voters see her work, she'll be a real contender.

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BEST ACTRESS

The Blind Side, Sandra Bullock | Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side In perhaps her most fiery performance, Bullock plays Leigh Anne Touhy, a Tennessee mother who adopts a homeless teenager and…
Credit: Ralph Nelson

Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

In perhaps her most fiery performance, Bullock plays Leigh Anne Touhy, a Tennessee mother who adopts a homeless teenager and encourages him to become a football star. While the Academy might not cotton to the sentimental film, Bullock is a good bet for a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Drama.

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BEST ACTRESS

Michelle Monaghan, Trucker | Michelle Monaghan, Trucker Monaghan shows never-before-seen depth as a truck-driving mom in the drama that premiered at last year's Tribeca Film Festival. The film is…
Credit: Kevin Estrada

Michelle Monaghan, Trucker

Monaghan shows never-before-seen depth as a truck-driving mom in the drama that premiered at last year's Tribeca Film Festival. The film is polarizing, but her performance is unexpectedly moving.

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BEST ACTRESS

Amelia, Hilary Swank | Hilary Swank, Amelia Nearly universally bad reviews for the film have put a serious damper on Swank's prospects. But let's not forget that another Academy…
Credit: Ken Woroner

Hilary Swank, Amelia

Nearly universally bad reviews for the film have put a serious damper on Swank's prospects. But let's not forget that another Academy favorite, Cate Blanchett, managed a nod despite the critical negativity directed at Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

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BEST ACTRESS

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee, Robin Wright | Robin Wright, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee Wright's titular turn as an emotionally fragile trophy wife in director Rebecca Miller's drama is perhaps the…
Credit: Gene Page

Robin Wright, The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Wright's titular turn as an emotionally fragile trophy wife in director Rebecca Miller's drama is perhaps the most subtle contender of the year. It's a typically strong showing from Wright, but subtle rarely does the trick at the Oscars.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

The Men Who Stare at Goats, George Clooney | George Clooney, The Men Who Stare At Goats For every critic who found the political comedy appealing, there's another who couldn't stand it. But Clooney…
Credit: Laura Macgruder

George Clooney, The Men Who Stare At Goats

For every critic who found the political comedy appealing, there's another who couldn't stand it. But Clooney remains the film's only real shot at a nomination thanks to his over-the-top goofiness.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Zach Galifianakis, The Hangover | Zach Galifiniakis, The Hangover Yes, it could happen! The supporting-actor race is often where the Academy shows its funnier side, and Galifianakis' star-making turn as…
Credit: Frank Masi

Zach Galifiniakis, The Hangover

Yes, it could happen! The supporting-actor race is often where the Academy shows its funnier side, and Galifianakis' star-making turn as a socially awkward bachelor-party attendee is certainly the most unforgettable comedic performance of the year.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker | Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker It was Geraghty's costar Anthony Mackie who scored a supporting-male Spirit Award nod last year, but Geraghty was equally impressive…
Credit: Jonathan Olley

Brian Geraghty, The Hurt Locker

It was Geraghty's costar Anthony Mackie who scored a supporting-male Spirit Award nod last year, but Geraghty was equally impressive as a soldier preoccupied with losing his life while on duty.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

An Education, Peter Sarsgaard | Peter Sarsgaard, An Education Sarsgaard's castmate Alfred Molina has the showier monologues, but Sarsgaard, playing a thirtysomething who romances a British schoolgirl, tackles arguably the…
Credit: Kerry Brown

Peter Sarsgaard, An Education

Sarsgaard's castmate Alfred Molina has the showier monologues, but Sarsgaard, playing a thirtysomething who romances a British schoolgirl, tackles arguably the most difficult role in the film. Bonus points for the British accent.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Bright Star, Paul Schneider | Paul Schneider, Bright Star He's quite unlikable as poet John Keats' overprotective best friend, but Schneider creates a memorable villain in Jane Campion's period drama.…

Paul Schneider, Bright Star

He's quite unlikable as poet John Keats' overprotective best friend, but Schneider creates a memorable villain in Jane Campion's period drama. Strong buzz for his costar Abbie Cornish will only help his case.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Patricia Clarkson, Whatever Works | Patricia Clarkson, Whatever Works Clarkson, one of our best character actresses, is a past nominee in this category for Pieces of April . And as…
Credit: Jessica Miglio

Patricia Clarkson, Whatever Works

Clarkson, one of our best character actresses, is a past nominee in this category for Pieces of April. And as a feisty Southern belle, she could join the legion of women who landed in this race after costarring in a Woody Allen film.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Inglourious Basterds | Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds Christoph Waltz is a supporting-actor lock from Quentin Tarantino's latest opus. But Laurent, so fierce as the film's true heroine, cannot…
Credit: Francois Duhamel

Mélanie Laurent, Inglourious Basterds

Christoph Waltz is a supporting-actor lock from Quentin Tarantino's latest opus. But Laurent, so fierce as the film's true heroine, cannot be counted out either.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Samantha Morton, The Messenger | Samantha Morton, The Messenger The film, costarring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, is one of the best-acted indies of year. And Morton, a two-time past…

Samantha Morton, The Messenger

The film, costarring Ben Foster and Woody Harrelson, is one of the best-acted indies of year. And Morton, a two-time past nominee (for Sweet & Lowdown and In America), delivers another impressively understated performance as a new war widow.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire, Paula Patton | Paula Patton, Precious Buzz-wise, Patton has taken a backseat to her castmates Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey. But if Precious becomes a top contender, Patton's angelic…

Paula Patton, Precious

Buzz-wise, Patton has taken a backseat to her castmates Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey. But if Precious becomes a top contender, Patton's angelic schoolteacher could get swept along for the ride.

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BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

The Lovely Bones, Rachel Weisz | Rachel Weisz, The Lovely Bones Weisz won this category with The Constant Gardener . Now she returns with a small but important role in The…
Credit: Matt Mueller

Rachel Weisz, The Lovely Bones

Weisz won this category with The Constant Gardener. Now she returns with a small but important role in The Lovely Bones, playing the mother of a teenage murder victim. Never underestimate what Weisz can accomplish with limited screen time.

More 2009 Oscars coverage:
Read Dave Karger's OscarWatch blog
Oscar race: Dave Karger IDs this year's front runners

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    1 of 25 BEST PICTURE
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