Big summer franchise movies are assembled much like a NBA franchise team. You’ve got the executives who care more about the bottom line (“Let’s sign Allen Iverson — he’ll put butts in the seat” or “Let’s hire Scarlett Johansson — she’ll add sex appeal!”) rather than whether they create a high quality product. They hire the actors, or ball players. The thing is, it’s then up to the coach, or director, to make something out of this collection they were force fed, with their name being on the line. When a movie sucks, how often do you hear, “Man, that studio executive did an awful job?” And days after the Chicago Bulls were eliminated from the playoffs by the Cleveland Cavaliers, it was coach Vinny Del Negro who got the axe, not GM John Paxson.

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Okay, I’mna write about the Knicks’ disastrous weekend tomorrow, and yes, the Academy Awards ain’t got nuthin’ to do with bball (particularly since the doc about LeBron didn’t even get nominated).  However, I figured I’d quickly post my Oscar picks before the big event so that they’re etched in stone.  Or html code.  Note that these are not what I WANT to win, but what I think WILL win.

Best Picture – actually the toughest of the “Big Eight” and while many are going with The Hurt Locker, I think the new voting system for best picture will result in a win for Avatar.

Best Director – Kathryn Bigelow for Hurt Locker

Best Actor – Jeff Bridge in Crazy Heart

Best Actress – Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side

Best Supporting Actor – Christoph Waltz in Inglorious Basterds (not to sound like a man who supports stammering, but don’t it bother you that his first name is missing an “er” at the end of it?)

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