(Here is the 2010 version of what has become a great PB tradition – Roger’s Oscars Tips. Those who have followed them up with bets in previous years have almost always made money. Let’s see if this will work again next week – Mike Smithson)

2010 Oscars. Here is a list of the nominations in the main categories followed by my tips for the winners. A competitive year with very few certainties,

Best Film. ‘A Serious Man’, ‘An Education’, ‘Avatar, ‘ District 9’, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, ‘Precious’, ‘The Blind Side’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Up’, ‘Up In The Air’.

Between two very different war films. The epic but banal ‘Avatar’ and the gritty but limited ‘The Hurt Locker’. Though well crafted ‘The Hurt Locker’ doesn’t have the scope of recent great war films like ‘The Deer Hunter’ or ‘Apocalypse Now’ so I’m going to go for ‘Avatar’.

Best Director. ‘Avatar‘, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, ’Precious’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Up In The Air‘.

It’s unusual to separate Best Film from Best Director, but this year I think they might . Kathryn Bigalow the director of ‘Hurt Locker’ did an exceptional job despite a budget a fraction of ex-husband James Cameron‘s ‘Avatar’. So Kathryn Bigalow for Best Director.

Best Actor. Colin Firth, Jeff Bridges, Morgan Freeman, Jeremy Renner, George Clooney.

The most competitive for years. I’d say it’s between Colin Firth playing a bereaved gay and Jeff Bridges as a washed-up country singer. Both excellent but because he’s American I think it’ll go to Jeff Bridges.

Best Actress. Carey Mulligan, Meryl Streep, Gabourey Sidibe, Sandra Bullock, Helen Mirren.

The smart money is on Sandra Bullock. I thought she was good but so were Gabourney Sidebe in ‘Precious’ and Carey Mulligan in ‘An Education’. Though I think Sandra Bullock will get it Carey Mulligan is a good long shot.

Best Supporting Actor. Christopher Waltz, Matt Damon, Christopher Plummer, Stanley Tucci, Woody Harrelson.

Stand out winner Christopher Waltz for his brilliant performance as an SS colonel in ‘Inglourious Basterds’.

Best Supporting Actress. Maggie Gyllenhaal, Penelope Cruz, Mo’Nique, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick.

Very competitive again with four possible winners. But my favourite is the terrifying Mo’Nique in one of the best films of the year , ‘Precious’.

Best Animation. ‘Coraline’, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, ‘The Princess and the Frog’, ‘The Secret of Kells’, ‘Up’.

An honourable mention for ‘The Princess and the Frog’ but it’s got to be ‘Up’.

Best Foreign Film. ‘Ajami’ (Isreal), ‘Das Weiss Band’ (Germany), ‘El Secreto Sus Ojos’ (Argentina), ‘La Teta Asustada’ (Peru), ‘Un Prophete’ (France).

In any other year three of these would be nailed on winners. ‘Das Weiss Band’ (The White Ribbon), ‘Un Prophete’ and ‘Un Secretode Sus Ojos‘. For me though it’s got to be ‘The White Ribbon‘, my film of the year. (Sorry Chris from Bethesda!)

Best Cinematography. ‘Avatar’, ‘Das Weiss Band’, ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, ‘The Hurt Locker’.

Probably English cameraman Barry Ackroyd for The Hurt Locker’.

Best Art Direction. ‘Avatar’, ‘Nine’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, ‘The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’, ‘The Young Victoria’.

‘Avatar‘ again.

Best Visual Effects. ‘Avatar’, ‘District 9’, ‘Star Trek’.

‘Avatar‘, obviously!

Best Original Screenplay. ‘A Serious Man’, ‘Inglourious Basterds’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘The Messenger’, ‘Up’.

I could make a case for every one of these. However I have a feeling it’s ‘The Hurt Locker’s’ year . A good long shot might be Tarantino’s very enjoyable ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Best Adapted Screenplay. ‘An Education’, ‘District 9’, ‘In The Loop’, ‘Roche’, ‘Precious’, ‘Up In The Air’.

I’d go for the intelligent well-written comedy ‘Up in the Air’ .

Best Costume. ‘Bright Star’, ‘Coco Avant Chanel’, ‘Nine’, ‘Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus’, ‘The Young Victoria’.

Between ‘The Young Victoria’ and ‘Coco Avant Chanel‘. I hope it’ll be ‘Coco Avant Chanel’. A disappointing film but well dressed!

Best Editing. ‘Avatar’, ‘District 9’, ‘Inglorius Basterds’, ‘Precious’, ‘The Hurt Locker’.

‘The Hurt Locker’.

Best Sound Editing. ‘Avatar’, ‘Inglourius Basterds’, ‘Star Trek’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Up’.

For perfectly creating the sounds and silence of bomb disposal I’d go for ‘The Hurt Locker‘.

Best Original Score. ‘Avatar’, ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’, ‘The Hurt Locker’, ‘Up’.

Probably ‘Up’.

Best Original Song. ‘Crazy Heart’, ‘Fauberg 36’, ‘Nine’ , ‘The Princess and the Frog’ (Almost there), ‘The Princess and the Frog’ (Down in New Orleans).

‘Crazy Heart’ (The Weary Kind).

As always (on the subject of film!) the thoughts of EdP are well worth hearing.