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Let's face it, how many of you have skipped out on the presentation for Best Animated Short Film so you can go to the bathroom or get another bowl of hot popcorn? Raise your hand if you have. Remember, honesty is the best policy.  (You have every right to argue I should have included Best Animated Film category below, but really, everyone knows it's going to be Up. So there, now there IS 10 predictions.)

So, without further ado, drum roll, please ... And no offense to the other unmentioned categories. Congratulations to all!

BEST PICTURE
Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
Precious
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

Okay, tough one here because Inglourious Basterds and The Hurt Locker are deserving, especially the former in my book. However, when push comes to shove, the behemoth that is Avatar will win out. Hopefully James Cameron won't make another Titanic-like speech.

BEST DIRECTOR
James Cameron, Avatar
Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Quentin Tarentino, Inglourious Basterds
Lee Daniels, Precious
Jason Reitman, Up in the Air

Bigelow and Tarentino are deserving with two war classics, albeit with quite different styles. Ultimately, Cameron will score again with what was a massive undertaking.

BEST ACTOR
Jeff Bridges, Crazy Heart
George Clooney, Up in the Air
Colin Firth, A Single Man
Morgan Freeman, Invictus
Jeremy Renner, The Hurt Locker

Jeff Bridges delivers the performance of his career as a washed up, renegade country western singer in the vein of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Consider this a lock.

BEST ACTRESS
Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Helen Mirren, The Last Station
Carey Mulligan, An Education
Gabourney Sidibe, Precious
Meryl Streep, Julie & Julia

I feel bad for Streep. She was brilliant as the memorable character that was Julia Childs. Streep completely absorbs herself into the role and again shows why she is the greatest living actress on the planet. In any other year, she probably wins, yet it will be Sandra Bullock who, like Bridges, delivers the best acting of her career.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Matt Damon, Invictus
Woody Harrelson, The Messenger
Christopher Plummer, The Last Station
Stanley Tucci, The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz, Inglourious Basterds

If you love cinema, you must see Woody Harrelson's performance as a soldier with a damaged soul in  The Messenger. It's as moving as they come. Harrelson will have to be satisfied with the nomination only because Christoph Waltz is takes Inglourious Basterds to a whole new level with an epic performance as the Nazi everyone can love to hate.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penélope Cruz, Nine
Vera Farmiga, Up in the Air
Maggie Gyllenhaal, Crazy Heart
Anna Kedrick, Up in the Air
Mo'Nique, Precious

Mo'Nique was the surprise of the entire year with her breakout dramatic role as the despicable, unsympathetic mother of the title character. She's won every award already so this is a no-brainer.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

Hats off to The Messenger writer Mark Boal for creating the best war film made to date involving the Iraq War, but this is Tarantino's year to take home the gold statue for Inglourious Basterds.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air

Despite what I think is an immensely creative screenplay by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell for District 9, this category will go to Up in the Air scribes Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Avatar
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The Hurt Locker
Inglourious Basterds
The White Ribbon

Personally, I'm pulling for The White Ribbon but it will be The Hurt Locker that will win the night.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.

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