The air was crisp with excitement as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the list of nominees for 2010’s big Oscar Show.  We all look forward with inexplicable excitement to that magical night when somewhere between deep probing questions like, “Who are you wearing?” and the monotony of watching celebs congratulate themselves over and over and over for their own greatness and earth-changing achievement, we (the unwashed masses) are allowed to see who Hollywood thinks is the best of their best.

“Avatar” and “Hurt Locker” lead the list with 9 nominations each including nominations for both films as Best Picture.  The side story is that “Avatar” is the baby of director/writer James Cameron, while “Hurt Locker”  director Kathryn Bigelow is the ex-Mrs. James Cameron.  Sparks will fly.  In all, 10 films were nominated for Best Picture including, “The Blind Side”, “District 9”, “An Education”, “Inglorious Basterds”, “Precious”, “A Serious Man”,  “UP” and “Up In The Air”.

The nominees for Best Actor include Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart"; George Clooney, "Up in the Air"; Colin Furth, "A Single Man"; Morgan Freeman, "Invictus" and Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker".

Nominated for Best Actress:  Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side"; Helen Mirren, "The Last Station"; Carey Mulligan, "An Education"; Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious" and Meryl Streep, "Julie and Julia".

The Best Director nominees are James Cameron, "Avatar"; Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker"; Quentin Tarantino, "Inglorious Basterds"; Lee Daniels, "Precious" and Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air".

Some notable notes from the nominations:

Meryl Streep received her 877th nomination. 

In a real shocker there were actually a few American actors who received nominations in the acting categories. 

And one great travesty of it all is that Morgan Freeman was nominated. If these things were truly fair and just, Morgan Freeman would simply be given an Oscar every time he does a movie.  He should never have to be nominated with mere actors.

Who will win?  No one knows for certain.  The only thing we do know is that the 82nd Annual Academy Awards program will involve much self congratulation, false humility, a few nasty comments about conservatives and an over-produced incessantly long program that will seem to drag on into eternity.

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be broadcast live on March 7, 2010.

Can’t wait!  Gimme some popcorn.