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Arts & Life Editor Arts & Life Joe Wolfe Will greed or art triumph Oscar Sunday? commentary by to give her another statue. Megan Walsh Best Supporting Actor Staff Writer Nominees: Matt Damon, “Invictus;” Woody Harrelson, The 82nd Annual Academy “The Messenger;” Christopher Awards will be held Sunday, Plummer, “The Last Station;” March 7 at the Kodak Theatre Stanley Tucci, “The Lovely in Hollywood, Calif. This year Bones;” Christoph Waltz, “In- brings some changes, as the glourious Basterds.” academy expands the num- Winner: Christoph Waltz ber of best picture nominees This category is a toss- from five to 10. This change up. Waltz received best in- allows the academy to honor show reviews for his per- films that would not have formance as Colonel Hans previously made the cut (the Landa, a multi-lingual and Coen brothers’ “A Serious ruthless Nazi in “Inglouri- Man”) or, as some see it, al- ous Basterds.” Waltz swept lows it to honor films that the precursor awards, but he made a ton of money at the has strong competition from box office (“The Blind Side”). Christopher Plummer. Plum- Steve Martin and Alec mer, age 80, received his first Baldwin are co-hosting the Oscar nomination for his por- awards, which should make trayal of Leo Tolstoy in “The for an entertaining night. Last Station.” Veteran actors For Martin, this is his second usually win in this category, time hosting the award show; so that may give Plummer an it is the first for Baldwin. An- edge. other change this year is the Best Supporting Actress presence of a house DJ. Good Nominees: Penelope Cruz, Charlotte’s Joel Madden will “Nine;” Vera Farmiga, “Up In provide tunes during com- courtesy of MCT Campus The Air;” Maggie Gyllenhaal, mercial breaks. JEFF BRIDGES’ spectacular performance as a folk singer in “Crazy Heart” might just earn him Oscar gold. “Crazy Heart;” Anna Kendrick, Without further ado, here “Up In The Air;” Mo’Nique, are my predictions for who than rewarding the actual Here is a prime example Winner: Sandra Bullock. “Precious: Based on the Novel will take home Oscar gold “best” from that year. The of an actor getting his due. Based on the quality of their ‘Push’ by Sapphire.” Sunday night. academy likes rewarding big- Bridges is a veteran of the performances, this award Winner: Mo’Nique. Best Film name A-list actors and films silver screen, and this is his should go to Sidibe, but Bull- When the film premiered Nominees: “Avatar,” “The with big box office draws. fourth Oscar nomination. He ock is on a roll. Sandra is at the Sundance Film Festi- Blind Side,” “District 9,” “An So, does the Oscar go to the is captivating as Bad Blake, a having the best year of her val last February, critics and Education,” “The Hurt Lock- movie that grossed $12 mil- washed-up, alcoholic country career, with two blockbuster audience members started er,” “Inglourious Basterds,” lion or the film that became singer, and he is certainty de- films (“The Blind Side” and saying Mo’Nique had the best “Precious: Based on the Novel the highest grossing movie of serving of Oscar gold. It’s his “The Proposal”) and Golden supporting actress Oscar in ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” “A Serious all time? In the end, I think time. Globe and Screen Actors Guild the bag. Now, more than a Man,” “Up,” “Up In The Air.” art will triumph over money. Best Actress wins for her performance as year later, Mo’Nique is still Winner: “The Hurt Locker.” Best Actor Nominees: Sandra Bullock, Leigh Anne Tuohy, the adop- going strong, winning pretty The best picture race this Nominees: Jeff Bridges, “The Blind Side;” Helen Mir- tive mother of football player much every precursor award year comes down to two “Crazy Heart;” George Cloo- ren, “The Last Station;” Car- Michael Oher. Bullock’s main for her performance as Mary, films: “The Hurt Locker,” a ney, “Up In The Air;” Colin ey Mulligan, “An Education;” competition is from Oscar an abusive mother who tor- drama about the Iraq War, Firth, “A Single Man;” Morgan Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious: queen Streep, who earned her tures her teenage daughter. and “Avatar,” a sci-fi movie Freeman, “Invictus;” Jeremy Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by 16th nomination this year. Nothing should be standing set in 2154. As we know, the Renner, “The Hurt Locker.” Sapphire;” Meryl Streep, “Julie Streep only has two wins, and in her way of an Oscar Sun- Oscars is more about politics Winner: Jeff Bridges. & Julia.” the academy has been itching day night. University grants ‘Speech & Debate’ commentary by bring The University community Richard A. Hawran together so that individuals can Staff Writer relate to the play, either them- selves or through others, and to have an open environment to On Thursday, March 11 the discuss the substance of the play University Players, with a grant with Karam, who will attend the from the Office of Equity and on-campus reading. This event Diversity, will present a staged highlights the brilliant progress reading of Stephen Karam’s play, made by The University towards “Speech & Debate.” Stephen its inclusion of the GLBTQ com- Karam co-wrote “columbinus,” munity and its allies on campus. which played to large audiences Having this event on campus in the Royal Theatre last year. sends a message to The Univer- “Speech & Debate” received a sity community, demonstrating media nomination from the Gay that the progress made on cam- & Lesbian Alliance Against Defa- pus is real, tangible and some- mation, and had an acclaimed, thing to be proud of. twice-extended run at the Roundabout Theatre Company in New York City. “Speech & Debate” illustrates what it is like to be a young stu- dent without a voice while ex- ploring identity and sexuality in an adult world. In the comedy, three teenagers from Salem, Or. bravely expose the secrets of their high school teacher, who courts his gay students on the internet. The teenagers are pro- hibited from publicizing the sto- ry in the school paper, so instead they band together and form a speech and debate club. In this club, the teenagers televise their riotous musical interpretation of Miller’s “The Crucible.” The goal of this free event is to courtesy of University Players