Steve Martin, who has hosted the ceremony several times before but seems more comfortable with a paintbrush or banjo in his hand these days rather than delivering anything remotely comedic, will be joined by an in-form Alec Baldwin, fresh from another award-winning performance as Jack Donaghy in the brilliant 30 Rock. It will be interesting to see how the reborn Baldwin deals with carrying the weight of Steve Martin, who takes himself far too seriously nowadays, for the four hours it takes to hand out the statuettes and how they will entertain the audience between the awards for Best Documentary Short and Best Sound Mixing.

In an attempt to boost dwindling audience figures, the organisers have decided to have 10 nominees for the Best Picture award, to tap into lost demographics. The last time this happened was in 1943. Looking at the list though, you can find the films that are fleshing out the category. Usually, a film nominated for best picture will have its director nominated too. This new format sees five directors missing out on this opportunity. . .

Here are the nominations. (For the awards that people actually care about and the ones that, perhaps, only I like to watch.)

3. District 9

7. A Serious Man

9. Up

10. Up in the Air

I think it's fair to say that District 9 doesn't belong there, Up is there because it will win best animation, Up in the Air makes an appearance because Clooney is nominated for his acting, and A Serious Man is merely support for the Coen Brothers who have dropped standards again since No Country for Old Men.

It looks to be a battle between Avatar and The Hurt Locker this year. James Cameron against his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow.

In the Best Picture category you'd think Avatar would take it because it really is taking film-watching to another place.

1. Jeff Bridge - Crazy Heart

2. George Clooney - Up in the Air

3. Colin Firth - A SIngle Man

4. Morgan Freeman - Invictus

5. Jeremy Renner - the Hurt Locker

Will it be another year for an actor playing a real life person - think Forest Whitaker playing Idi Amin, Philip Seymour-Hoffman playing Truman Capote. . . . This category doesn't look that interesting this year. Nice to see Colin Firth flying the British flag.

1. Matt Damon - Invictus

2. Woody Harrelson - The Messenger

3. Christopher Plummer - The Last Station

4. Stanley Tucci - The Lovely Bones

5. Christophe Waltz - Inglourious Basterds

Looks like a two-horse race here between Matt Damon playing a very convincing Francois Pienaar and Christophe Waltz who, in my opinion has had the most memorable role of the last year. Cold, subtle, chilling. I love Damon but it would be a travesty if Waltz lost this.

1. Sandra Bullock - the Blind Side

2. Helen Mirren - the Last Station

3. Carey Mulligan - An Education

4. Gabourey Sidibe - Precious

5. Meryl Streep - Julie and Julia

Bullock and Streep both won at the Golden globes. Gabourey Sidibe stands a chance but if she did win then it seems wrong that Jamal Woolard didn't win last year when he played The Notorious B.I.G. I can't see Mirren doing it again but it's good to see new British talent in Carey Mulligan.

1. Penelope Cruz - Nine. (This movie should have never been made. Just tragic.)

2. Vera Farmiga - Up in the Air

3. Maggie Gyllenhaal - Crazy Heart

4. Anna Kendrick - Up in the Air

5. Mo'Nique - Precious.

Does anyone care about this category this year?

1. James Cameron - Avatar

2. Kathryn Bigelow - The Hurt Locker

3. Inglourious Basterds - Quentin Tarantino

4. Lee Daniels - Precious

5. Jason Reitman - Up in the Air

No woman has ever won this award. Jane Campion was nominated for the Piano but everyone realised it was totally boring just as they cast their vote. Sofia Coppola missed out for Lost in Translation but the studios do hate her dad. There was some other woman back in the day but it doesn't matter. The fact that The Hurt Locker is featuring so heavily may suggest that Bigelow could pick this up. Also, Hollywood like to send out a message with the Oscars and it might just be that 'It's OK to talk about the war now.'

Tragedy plus time.

Tarantino is in with a shout but, again, it's between Cameron and Bigelow. Usually it goes to whoever directed the winner in the best picture category so maybe Cameron will grab a handful again just as he did in '97 when Goodwill Hunting was robbed time after time after time.

1. District 9 - Written by Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell

2. An Education - Screenplay by Nick Hornby

3. In the Loop - Screenplay by Jesse Armstrong, Simon Blackwell, Armando Iannucci, Tony Roche

4. Precious - Screenplay by Geoffrey Fletcher

5. Up in the Air - by Jason Reitman and Sheldon turner

Might be Hornby but Precious has to get some recognition due to the subject matter. Hollywood won't let that go.

However, if Hornby wins, he might stick to screenwriting rather than setting fire to our fond memories of High Fidelity, About a Boy and Fever Pitch.

1. The Hurt Locker - Written by Mark Boal

2. Inglourious Basterds - Written by Quentin Tarantino

3. The Messenger - Written by Alessandro Camon & Oren Moverman

4. A Serious Man - Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

5. Up - Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Doctor.

It has to be Tarantino. Right?

These are the major awards. The biggies.

But don't forget all the other little awards for editing and documentaries and animation and effects and sound and music.

The Oscars will be held on March 7th. Look out for the Bookhouse predictions on 6th. . .

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