Hollywood's biggest night takes center stage this weekend with the presentation of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are sharing hosting duties for the star-studded ceremony celebrating the best films of 2009. All eyes are on two films on opposite ends of the budget spectrum -- James Cameron's blockbuster hit "Avatar" and the low budget Iraq war drama "The Hurt Locker," directed by Cameron's ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow. Both films are nominated for nine awards a piece, including Best Picture and Best Director. Ten films are up for Best Motion Picture this year. The other contenders include "The Blind Side," "District 9," "An Education," "Inglourious Basterds," "Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' By Sapphire" "A Serious Man," "Up," and "Up In The Air."Nominees for Best Actor include Jeff Bridges in "Crazy Heart,'' George Clooney for "Up in the Air,'' Colin Firth in "A Single Man,'' Morgan Freeman for "Invictus'' and Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker.'' The Best Actress category includes Sandra Bullock for "The Blind Side," Meryl Streep for "Julie & Julia," Helen Mirren in "The Last Station,'' Carey Mulligan for ''An Education,'' and Gabourey Sidibe in "Precious.''
The 82nd Annual Academy Awards will be presented this Sunday, March 7th. ABC will televise the ceremony live from the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood starting at 8:00 pm Eastern.
