Really cool having Jeff Bridges present “A Serious Man.” Gotta say, it is appropriate to have “the Dude” present the Coen Brothers’ movie. New update for those who dont know — Jeff Bridges is starring in the brothers’ remake of “True Grit,” the movie that John Wayne won his Oscar for. Matt Damon and Josh Brolin are costarring, so expect the upcoming western to be an awards contender in 2010.

Got to love how they pick these presenting duos. The only connection between Jake Gylenhaal and Rachel McAdams… they are both really hot.

Best Adapted Screenplay is another stacked category. Just another example of how strong a movie year 2009 was. Wow! First big upset. “Up in the Air” had been the heavy favorite for months. I wonder if the spat between writers Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner had anything to do with it. Reitman definitely took a big PR hit with how dickish he seemed to be at the Golden Globes. Honestly, if it wasn’t “Up in the Air” I would have preferred “An Education.” Nick Hornby’s script was gorgeous.

And what an awkward but heartfelt speech by Geoffrey Fletcher.

“I wrote that speech for him.” Steve Martin, you are comic gold. And Queen Latifah, looking beautiful in pink, presents another montage. This one for the Governor’s Award.

These are the movies Blast is excited about seeing in the month of September:

The Women

Who: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher

What: Ryan plays a clothing designer who finds out that her husband is cheating on her with another woman (Mendes) and then, with the help of her friends, all hell breaks loose.

When: September 12

Why: Meg Ryan hasn’t had a good chick flick since “Kate & Leopold” in 2001, but this movie looks like it could be her big comeback. The cast is fantastic and looks to have great chemistry. Plus, the whole “Sex and the City” vibe it is channeling is so in this year.

Burn After Reading

This is a redband trailer and not suitable for all audiences

Who: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins, Brad Pitt, J.K. Simmons

What: The Coen brothers’ latest flick about two gym employees (Pitt and McDormand) who get their hands on the memoir of an ex-CIA official (Malkovich) and plan to take advantage of their discovery.

When: September 12

Why: The Coen brothers look like they’re going more for “O Brother, Where Art Thou” than “No Country For Old Men” in this one, but the change of pace is nice.. The cast is beyond A-list; this is Clooney and Pitt’s first movie together since “Ocean’s Thirteen,” and Swinton and Clooney are reunited after last year’s “Michael Clayton.” Plus, when have the Coen brothers ever failed to deliver?

Righteous Kill

Who: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Carla Gugino, 50 Cent, Donnie Wahlberg

What: Two veteran detectives (De Niro and Pacino) work to identify whether there is a connection between their current murder case and one they put to rest years before.

When: September 12

Why: This is De Niro and Pacino’s second movie together, but unlike “Heat” where they only had about five minutes of mutual face time; “Righteous Kill” looks like it will really show of their chemistry. Plus the good cop/bad copy storyline has “Oscar” written all over it.

The Duchess

Who: Keira Knightley, Ralph Fiennes, Hayley Atwell, Dominic Cooper, Charlotte Rampling

What: Knightly plays Georgiana Spencer, the Duchess of Devonshire, the head of high society who proved she could out-gamble, out-drink, and outwit most of the men she surrounded herself with. However, when she tries to follow an illicit love, she brings upon the wrath of her husband (Fiennes) and all of London.

When: September 19

Why: Keira Knightly looks fascinating and ravishing as the Duchess. Plus, the “it-girl” vibe has been a bit outdone this year when taking place in modern times, so why not watch the same story take place in regency era England?

Choke

Who: Sam Rockwell, Anjelica Huston, Kelly MacDonald, Brad Henke, Clark Gregg

What: An adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, Choke is the story of a sex-addicted colonial theme park worker (Rockwell) who creates an elaborate scheme to pay for his mother’s hospital bills.

When: September 26

Why: It’s based on a Chuck Palahniuk book. Remember “Fight Club”? Yeah, it’s enough to make me go see it too.

Igor

Who: John Cusack, Steve Buscemi, John Cleese, Eddie Izzard, Arsenio Hall, Sean Hayes

What: A hunchbacked lab assistant, or Igor (Cusack), breaks away from his traditional role in society and tries to win Malaria’s annual science fair.

When: September 19

Why: Sure it won’t beat “WALL-E”, but the voice talents are funny in real life, so why not in a movie too?

Miracle at St. Anna

Who: Derek Luke, Michael Ealy, Laz Alonso, Omar Benson Miller, Matteo Sciabordi, Pierfrancesco Favino, Valentina Cervi

What: Spike Lee’s story of four black American soldiers find themselves separated from their unit and trapped behind enemy lines in Italy during World War II. Working with a village of Italian rebels, they try to avoid the Nazis and save the life of an Italian boy.

When: September 26

Why: The trailer is really intriguing in a kind of skip-to-the-last-scene kind of way. Spike Lee has a good track record too.

Eagle Eye

Who: Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan, Rosario Dawson, Anthony Mackie, Billy Bob Thornton, Michael Chiklis

What:  Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan are two strangers being manipulated by a mysterious woman via cell phone who controls their every move. Together they must outwit the woman and outrun the FBI who thinks that they are responsible for crimes they did not commit.

When:  September 26

Why: Apparently this has been Steven Spielberg’s brain child for years, and the trailers look promising. It could end up being a total flop, but LaBeouf has been having good (on screen) luck this year.

February 24th is here. This year, the Academy Awards are celebrating their 80th season of turning a blind eye to the deserving films and, well, awarding the lame-os. And although he’s still considered the barometer for film quality standards, Oscar will surely be back this year with his latest disappointments, when he’ll send those “should-have-beens” to the world of movie mediocrity. So, without further adieu, I present to you my picks – I mean, the rightful winners – as opposed to those of Oscar’s. A hint? Expect “Atonement” to take home Best Picture. Eugh.

OSCAR’S PICKS

Best Picture:

“Atonement”

It’s the kind of sappy, over-the-top, made-for-the-Oscars film that you’d expect from the likes of Clint Eastwood. Plus, I can’t stand that stupid, hyper-emotional shot of Keira Knightley with her arms stretched out in the fog. Dear writers: Don’t bank your film on a pretty girl looking sad. Lame.

Leading Actor:

Daniel Day Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”

Exception. I think even the Academy has enough sense to recognize groundbreaking acting when they see it. The man’s brilliant, but somehow, he’s only got one Oscar under his belt. Now, it’s finally time for another.

Leading Actress

Julie Christie, “Away From Her”

A formerly attractive, married old woman (Julie Christie) comes down with Alzheimer’s, gets committed and somewhere between fraught old folk-emotions, falls in love with another man in the nursing home. Smells like Oscars. And maybe more old folks. Plus, the buzz in Hollywood circles has been traveling almost exclusively around her.

Best Directing

The Coen Bros, “No Country For Old Men”

Joel and Ethan Coen seem to have finally gotten the recognition they’ve deserved for more than 20 years. Their latest film has garnered four nominations this year, more than any of their previous contemporary cult classic films at one time. Once again, there’s been tremendous buzz about this one, and once again, it’s about time, anyway.

Best Cinematography

“No Country For Old Men”

Even ol’ Oscar can’t resist the sweeping shots of the barren, yet somehow beautiful rural Texas landscape the Coen Brothers captured. It’s nothing particularly stunning, but it seems cool enough – without being too sophisticated – for the Academy to stomach.

MY PICKS

Best Picture

“There Will Be Blood”

Simply put, it’s the most ambitious, frightening, deliciously creepy and visually satisfying film in recent memory. Other critics say it’s the “next Great American movie.” I say “good call.”

Leading Actor

Daniel Day Lewis, “There Will Be Blood”

The man is a genius. Somehow, Lewis is able to transcend his own humanity and fully enter into the role of a maniacal oilman. His stare is deathly eerie, and his delivery is superb. I first witnessed his performance about three weeks ago, and haven’t been able to sleep since then.

Leading Actress:

Laura Linney, “The Savages”

Laura Linney is one of those rarely acknowledged indie gems that sparkles with every performance. Her character is likable and accessible, and she’s the only one who could’ve pulled it off. Plus, she hasn’t won an Oscar yet – seriously – and I know that the Academy is into concessions (a la Scorsese), so why not?
Best Directing

Paul Thomas Anderson, “There Will Be Blood”

PTA is one of the up-and-coming young-ish directors who’s on his way to making movie history. So let’s start here – with his epic masterpiece – in which he flawlessly directs the larger-than-life D. D. Lewis, and photographs the lonely, haunting California landscape with enough macabre to make even Edgar Allen Poe lose his lunch.

Best Cinematography

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”

This picture is one of the most magnificently shot films I’ve ever seen. The soft colors and interesting focus-play just makes me feel good. And imagine that in a film that’s about a guy who loses nearly all control over his body, forcing him to live with “locked-in syndrome” for years before he dies. Dreamlike, subtle, yet atmospheric, it captures the delicate beauty of the here-today-gone-tomorrow essence of life.