The Oscar Hut's 1st Annual First 1/2 of the Year Awards: 2009 Edition vol. 1

Best Picture of The Year...So far:
- (500) Days of Summer

- Adventureland

- An Education

- Duplicity

- Funny People

- Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

- The Hurt Locker

- Public Enemies

- Star Trek

- Up

In honor of the Academy's decision to increase the Best Picture category to 10, we here at the Oscar Hut have followed suit and are now unveiling the ten best movies we have seen this year...so far. Much like how the Academy's long list will end up, ours showcases a variety of genres and styles of filmaking, but as the great Chris Lambert once famously said: There can only be one.

And The Oscar Hut Golden Pineapple goes to....

(500) Days of Summer

Best Director

- Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

- Pete Docter for Up

- Michael Mann for Public Enemies

- Lone Scherfig for An Education

- Marc Webb for (500) Days of Summer

Each director on this list did an excellent job with their films, creating a world that serves the story, actors and film perfectly. The decision was a tough one, but in the end only one of these directors can take home the Golden Pineapple.

nd the winner is......

Kathryn Bigelow for The Hurt Locker

Best Actor

- Peter Capaldi for In The Loop

- Joseph Gordon Levitt for (500) Days of Summer

- Jeremy Renner for The Hurt Locker

- Seth Rogen for Observe and Report

- Adam Sandler for Funny People

I have a feeling that this short list will upset a few people, but the truth is, some of the year's best work has indeed come from comedies. While actors like Johnny Depp and Peter Sarsgaard did excellent jobs, they tied for 6ht by the way, they were just a bit too subtle I guess is the word I'm looking for. Either way, the men on this list did incredible work, and I guarantee that at least one of them will go on to receive an Oscar nomination.

And the winner is....

Joseph Gordon Levitt for (500) Days of Summer

Best Actress

- Amy Adams for Sunshine Cleaning

- Zooey Deschanel for (500) Days of Summer

- Carey Mulligan for An Education

- Gwyneth Paltrow for Two Lovers

- Julia Roberts for Duplicty

It's sad to say but 2009 has so far been a weak year for actresses, as I had to struggle to name 5 women worthy enough to be on this list, and as you can see in that respect I may have stretched it a bit. Only two of these women are true end of the year contenders, and the one who won did so in a complete landslide.

And the winner is....

Carey Mulligan for An Education

Best Supporting Actor

- Jason Bateman for State of Play

- Jim Broadbent for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

- Jackie Earl Haley for Watchmen

- Tom Hollander for In The Loop

- Anthony Mackie for The Hurt Locker

This was a tough one, the hardest by far to choose the five as there was so many great supporting turns so far this year. Alfred Molina missed the list by a hair, as did Seth Rogen and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. As far as the winner goes, that was the hardest decision of these awards, and my mind will probably change by tomorrow.

And the winner is....

Jackie Earl Haley for Watchmen

Best Supporting Actress

- Helena Bonham Carter for Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

- Anna Chlumsky for In The Loop

- Patricia Clarkson for Whatever Works

- Marion Cottilard for Public Enemies

- Leslie Mann for Funny People

This was another tough one to choose a winner from. While the lead actresses may not have impressed me this year, the supporting actresses have, and my hope is that at least one of these ladies can hold on until Oscar time because the work here is really impressive.

And the winner is....

Marion Cottilard for Public Enemies

Best Original Screenplay goes to.....

Duplicity by Tony Gilroy

Best Adapted Screenplay goes to....

In The Loop by Armando Iannucci & Co.

Best Animated Film: UP

Best Editing: The Hurt Locker

Best Cinematography: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Best Special F/X: Star Trek

Best Score: UP