It’s that time of year again!!

Best Picture

For me there is no question about the winner, and I expect Gravatar to romp home. The special effects were stunning, and the tale of a band of heroic miners bringing prosperity to a land of savages has a powerful environmental message that will resonate with climate change deniers around the world.

If you enjoy on-screen villainy, Will Smith’s part as the despicable Smurf-Lord will have had you shivering. And his scientist sidekick, ably played by Dame Judi Dench, had me in stitches by the end.

Best Director

This one’s not as easy to pick. But I think David Lynch’s Ice Cream had it all. Everyone likes ice cream, especially kids, so the judges would have to have hearts of stone not to give Lynch the award.

The only things detracting from the film were the length (675 minutes), and the lack of top acting talent (in fact any actors at all).

But this film has a real buzz about it, partly because ice cream has never before won a major film award, and some insiders are saying 2010 is confectionery’s year.

Best Actor

I thought the performance of Tom Hanks in Othello 13 was outstanding, but I suspect the award will go to Nelson Mandela, for his role in the sporting blockbuster InVitro. His performance as Morgan Freeman displayed all of Mandela’s trademark dignity and power, and brought attention to the terrible plight of Somali figure-skaters. This may be Mandela’s time to shine.

Best Actress

It’s a toss-up between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway, and I can’t confidently pick which way the judges will go. But I‘m taking a punt on Hathaway for her delightful performance as the lead prosecutor in General Proceedings of the International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991. This may be just another teen-flick about fashion, shoes, boys and crimes against humanity, but Hathaway brings a sparkle to every scene she’s in.

Roll on the awards!!