‘Avatar’ vs. ‘Hurt Locker’: Lou’s Oscar predictions

Sure, I'll join the Oscar handicappers. Here are my picks for what will/should win at the Academy Awards Sunday evening.

Editing

Should and Will: "The Hurt Locker."

Song

Should and Will: "The Weary Kind" from "Crazy Heart"

Note: This year, the Best Song nominees won't be each given a number during the Oscar broadcast.

Costume Design

Will: "Coco Before Chanel"

Make Up

Will: "Star Trek"

Visual Effects, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Score, Art Direction
Will: "Avatar"

Cinematography

Should: "The Hurt Locker"

Will: "Avatar"

Original Screenplay
Should: "A Serious Man"

Will: "The Hurt Locker"

Should be nominated: "(500) Days of Summer"

Caveat:  "The Messenger" still hasn't played in Indianapolis

Adapted Screenplay

Should: Abstain, since I only saw one of the nominated films

Will: "Up in the Air"

Animated Feature

Should: "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

Will: "Up"

Directing

Will: "The Hurt Locker"

Supporting Actor

Should and will: Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Basterds."

Supporting Actress

Will: Mo-Nique in "Precious"

Leading Actor

Will: Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"

Should but wasn't nominated: Hal Holbrook in "That Evening Sun"

Picture

Will: "Avatar"

Should but weren't nominated: "Fantastic Mr. Fox" or "Where the Wild Things Are"

Of course, the deal breakers in your Oscar pool are likely to be the Documentary, Short Film and Foreign Language Film categories. Just like you, I'll be guessing come Oscar night.

Your thoughts?