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The announcement of the 2009 Academy Award nominations saw the return of director James Cameron to the Oscar race, as his special-effects thriller Avatar received nine nods. Twelve years earlier, his blockbuster Titanic (1997) made history by tying the record for most Academy Awards (11). Also earning nine nominations was The Hurt Locker, an Iraq War drama directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Other notable multiple nominees included Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds (eight nominations), Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire (six) and Up in the Air (six). The Oscar winners will be announced on March 7. For more information about the Academy Awards, including previous winners, see Britannica's All About Oscar.
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Best Picture Nominees
The number of best picture nominees increased from 5 to 10 this year, allowing for a wide variety of contenders. A World War II romp, a gritty urban drama, a British coming-of-age tale, and a feel-good movie are among those vying for the award. In addition, for just the second time in Oscar history, an animated film has been nominated for best picture.
Avatar, an epic film by director James Cameron, is set on a fictional moon called Pandora; it is especially noted for advances in special effects.
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The Blind Side features Sandra Bullock as a mother who takes in a struggling teenager and helps him become a professional football player in the National Football League.
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District 9 is a science-fiction thriller about a group of space aliens who become refugees on Earth. |
An Education follows a 16-year-old girl in 1960s London whose determination to experience the world leads to an affair with an older man. |
The Hurt Locker chronicles an elite Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal squad during the Iraq War. |
Inglourious Basterds depicts a group of American soldiers -- led by Lt. Aldo Raine (played by Brad Pitt) -- who attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler. |
Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire is a gritty adaptation of Sapphire's novel about an abused African American teenager. |
A Serious Man, a dark comedy directed by the Coen brothers, centres on a Jewish family in the 1960s. |
Up is an animated film that follows a lonely widower's quest to have one final adventure. |
Up in the Air, which takes a page from the current economic downturn, focuses on a consultant, played by George Clooney, who specializes in firing people. |
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Is a critical reason for the recession we're in "an education breakdown on Main Street," one that has undermined the ability of the average American worker to compete in the global arena?
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The assessment of public opinion is meant to produce a map of the opinions of an entire population by asking the opinions of some small sample.
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Many of the Earth's glaciers, as we know, are melting with unprecedented speed - in fact, most are expected to vanish in the second half of this century.
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This small, semi-evergreen shrub is native to Europe and is a popular ornamental in North American gardens.
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Kathryn Bigelow Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker) again demonstrates her ability to combine action and story with this tense portrayal of bomb detonators in the Iraq War.
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James Cameron ( Avatar) continues to redefine special effects in this science-fiction thriller.
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Lee Daniels Lee Daniels (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire) crafts a harrowing but hopeful story of an abused teenager.
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Jason Reitman Jason Reitman (Up in the Air) follows up on the success of Juno (2007) with a look at emotional detachment and corporate downsizing.
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Quentin Tarantino ( Inglourious Basterds) further demonstrates his mastery of stylized violence and razor-sharp dialogue in this fictional account of an attempt to assassinate Adolf Hilter.
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Jeff Bridges ( Crazy Heart) brings compassion and emotional depth to his portrayal of an aging country musician.
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George Clooney ( Up in the Air) offers a bittersweet take on a consultant who's more comfortable on the road than at home.
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Colin Firth Colin Firth (A Single Man) gives a poignant performance as a professor struggling to deal with the death of his longtime partner.
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Morgan Freeman ( Invictus) conveys the humanity and determination of Nelson Mandela as he attempts to unite a divided South Africa.
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Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) captures the intensity of a gifted--but often reckless--bomb detonator in the Iraq War.
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Sandra Bullock ( The Blind Side) blends humour and strength in her portrayal of a determined mother who helps an African American teenager.
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Helen Mirren ( The Last Station) provides a lively take on Leo Tolstoy's wife, Sofya.
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Carey Mulligan Carey Mulligan (An Education) captures a teenager's desire for adventure and romance.
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Gabourey Sidibe Gabourey Sidibe (Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire) turns in a powerful performance as an abused teenager struggling to improve her life.
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Meryl Streep ( Julie & Julia) conveys the enthusiasm and uniqueness of iconic American chef Julia Child.
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One of Britain's most promising fashion designers was found dead of an apparent suicide. |
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New research indicates that the closest living relatives of tigers are snow leopards. The two species, which are currently listed as endangered, are believed to have diverged about 3.2 million years ago.
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