And the trophy goes to...

The Oscar fever is in the air yet again. The 3D magnum opus Avatar with its nine nominations is a hot favourite amongst people while Sandra Bullock’s touching drama The Blind Side has been lapped up by the movie-buffs as well.

The adorable animated comedy Up has been pitted against biggies like Avatar and District 9 in the Best Film category, and film-maker Quentin Tarantino, as usual, has not disappointed his fans with the star-studded Inglourious Basterds. Metrolife speaks to few film-buffs and finds out their pick of the year.

Says Vardhan, a fourth semester student of engineering, “I am a James Cameron fan and I feel Avatar was wonderful.” He adds, “I didn’t like the story that much but Cameron’s direction was fantastic.”  

The Blind Side is the favourite pick of Balshankar, a film-maker. “I haven’t really followed the Oscar nominations this year. But I have seen Inglourious Basterds and The Blind Side, and both have been pretty good,” he says. “Avatar has been hyped up but despite its usual storyline, it will surely pick up trophies for Visual Effects and Sound Editing.”

When it comes to actors, his choices are Sandra Bullock (The Blind Side) and Morgan Freeman (Invictus). “Meryl Streep is extremely good too but actresses like her and Helen Mirren are nominated almost every year. So the trophy should go to Sandra as she has done something different from the roles she has played in films like Miss Congeniality and Two Weeks Notice.”

Balshankar also loved the animated film Up. “It is a very good movie and very rarely are animated films nominated in the Best Film category.”

Kaushyk, a content manager is waiting to watch the George Clooney starrer Up In The Air, which has received six nominations.

“I want to see the fictional movie based on the war in Iraq as well,” he says, referring to The Hurt Locker. “But I am not a big fan of either of the Oscar nominated films this year,” he admits.

“However, it is a good time for me to make a list of all the films I want to watch,” says Kaushyk, who is also waiting to watch Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire, a movie based on an overweight, struggling young woman, who is a victim of physical and sexual abuse.

Well, it’s surely raining blockbusters and with the countdown to the grand finale on in full swing, it’s time to sit back and a savour every minute of this cinematic bonanza.