and the Oscar for Best Blog goes to...

OK, before we get to the important stuff (the Oscar contest), there is a little matter of classwork to take care of...

Juniors: On the boards... In the board "Antigone v Antigone," discuss the openings of both versions of Antigone and how these scenes affect our perceptions of the plays. (If you cannot join the conversation, write a 1-1.5 page essay on this topic.) This is due Monday. RW also on Monday.

Sophs: On the boards... In the board "Specific Scenes," discuss the significance of the following scenes: the Howard scene, the restaurant scene, the Loman family confrontation in Act Two, and the garden scene. (If you cannot join the conversation, choose a scene and write a 1.5 page essay on this topic.)

Drama: Monologue performances on Monday. If I don't have your written work, it is imperative that I get it this weekend. Failure will adversely affect your monologue grades.

And the Oscar will go to...

Who can predict the Oscars better than I can? I'll tell you right now that I'm very likely to be wrong about Best Picture, since I'm going for the huge upset. If you want to join the Beat Topham Oscar Showdown, copy the categories below onto a comment on this or tomorrow's blog post and make your selections. The winner will get bagels for his or her class next Monday and a large bag of M&M's for him or herself.

Rules:

• You must choose in all categories below.
• Someone will "beat" me because I will not answer the final tie-breaking question.
• All entries must be posted online by 6 PM on Sunday, March 7.
• Boldface any selections you make that differ from mine. Use html code as instructed in the comments, and don't forget to close your code.
• Delete extra spaces in your comment post.
  
• In case of ties (even after the last question), I'll draw at random for the winner.
  
• My selections are in blue.
  

Best Picture

• Avatar
• The Blind Side
• District 9
• An Education
• The Hurt Locker
• Inglourious Basterds
• Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
• A Serious Man
• Up
• Up in the Air
  

Best Director

• James Cameron (Avatar)
• Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker
• Quentin Tarantino (Inglourious Basterds)
• Lee Daniels (Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire)
• Jason Reitman (Up in the Air)
  

Best Actor

• Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart"
  
• George Clooney in "Up in the Air"
  
• Colin Firth in "A Single Man"
  
• Morgan Freeman in "Invictus"
  
• Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker"
  

Best Actress

• Sandra Bullock in "The Blind Side"
  
• Helen Mirren in "The Last Station"
  
• Carey Mulligan in "An Education"
  
• Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
  
• Meryl Streep in "Julie & Julia"
  

Best Supporting Actor

• Matt Damon in "Invictus"
  
• Woody Harrelson in "The Messenger"
• Christopher Plummer in "The Last Station"
  
• Stanley Tucci in "The Lovely Bones"
  
• Christoph Waltz in "Inglourious Basterds"

Best Supporting Actress

• Penélope Cruz in "Nine"
• Vera Farmiga in "Up in the Air"
  
• Maggie Gyllenhaal in "Crazy Heart"
  
• Anna Kendrick in "Up in the Air"
  
• Mo'Nique in "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire"

Best Animated Film

• Coraline
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• The Princess and the Frog
• The Secret of Kells
• Up
  

Best Original Screenplay

• The Hurt Locker
• Inglourious Basterds
• The Messenger
• A Serious Man
• Up
  

Best Adapted Screenplay

• District 9
• An Education
• In the Loop
• Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire
• Up in the Air

Which film will win the most Oscars? How many?

FYI:
Avatar and The Hurt Locker are each nominated 9 times.
Inglourious Basterds is nominated 8 times.
Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire and Up in the Air are nominated 6 times.
Up is nominated 5 times.
Nine, Star Trek and District 9 are nominated 4 times.
Nothing else received more than three nominations. A full ballot and nominee listing can be accessed here.