It's February, which means it's Academy Awards season.

Community Engagement Editor Cheryl Sadler, Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros and Sports Editor Mark Podolski talk about the nominees in the six major categories, and some films that the Academy missed with its nominations.

Think you know who will win? Enter our Academy Awards contest for a chance to win a Blu-ray player and movie tickets package.

Follow us on Twitter: @nhcheryl, @nhfeatures and @mpodo.

You've seen the list of Oscar nominations for best picture.

There are nine of them.

Gulp. You have a lot of work to do between now and Feb. 26.

No time like this weekend to get started, right? Let's dig into where -- or how -- you can see each of the nine films.

"The Artist." After being a tough-to-find delicacy for a couple of weeks in Northeast Ohio, the wonderful ode to the silent-film era is everywhere. See it at Regal Willoughby Commons Stadium 16, Atlas Cinemas Great Lakes Stadium 16 in Mentor, Regal Richmond Towns Square Stadium 20 in Richmond Heights, Regal Severance Town Center Stadium 14 in Cleveland Heights and Cedar Lee Theatre, also in Cleveland Heights, where it's been playing.

"The Descendants." George Clooney''s Hawaii-set dramedy is still tearing up theaters. Catch it at the aforementioned Great Lakes, Regal Willoughby and Richmond Town Square, as well as Phoenix Theatres Eastgate 10 in Mayfield Heights and Atlas Cinemas Diamond Center 16 in Mentor.

"Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close." Grab your tissues and check out the post-9/11 family drama at Atlas Great Lakes and Diamond Center, Regal Willoughby and Richmond and Phoenix Eastgate.

"The Help." The powerful drama about black servants in 1960s Mississippi is already out on DVD and Blu-ray and available through Netflix,but you can also see it on the big screen and on the cheap at Phoenix Theatres Willoughby Hills Movies 10.

"Hugo." Apparently (and much to my surprise), it's not too late to see Martin Scorsese's family-friendly drama and homage to filmmaking pioneer George Melies in 3-D. Put on some glasses at Regal Willoughby and Severance and Chagrin Cinemas, or see it in a mere two dimensions at Regal Richmond.

"Midnight in Paris." The best work by writer-director Woody Allen in some time is out on DVD, so you can be whisked away to France via your couch quite easily.

"Moneyball." The adaptation of the book about Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) is out of theaters and available on disc at stores and through rental services. In my opinion it's not worth a best picture nod, but as far as entertainment goes, it's a home run.

"The Tree of Life." Look, we all should of seen writer-director Terrence Malick's dreamy and visually stunning meditation on the origins and connectivity of life in theaters and away from distractions at home. But at this point, you'll have to watch it at home. I can't promise you'll get anything more out of the visually arresting film the first time through than I did, but maybe, like me, you'll want to watch it again.

"War Horse." Too sappy for many critics, Steven Spielberg's equine-powered World War I drama hit me just right in my typically blackened heart, and I think back on it fondly. I encourage you to see it on a big screen Atlas Diamond Center, Regal Willoughby, Richmond or Severance or Chagrin Cinemas.

If you need me, you'll find me working on the best actress category by catching "My Week With Marilyn" (Michelle Williams) at Chagrin Cinemas or "Albert Nobbs" (Glenn Close) at Cedar Lee.

-- Mark Meszoros | Entertainment@News-Herald.com | @nhfeatures

Some surprises in this weekend's Top 10 movies. "Gnomeo & Juliet" moved up from last week's No. 3 spot to No. 1. After a week out of the top 10, "True Grit" returns at No. 10.

What's not a surprise with this week's list is the staying power of the Biebs (he must have those 'tween girls returning for fourth and fifth viewings of "Never Say Never"), and of course "The King's Speech," which might nearly sweep the top awards at tonight's Oscars. Preview the show here, and read Entertainment Editor Mark Meszoros' commentary here.

According to The Associated Press:

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Final figures will be released Tuesday.
1. “Gnomeo & Juliet,” $14.2 million. (Review by The AP's Christy Lemire)
2. “Hall Pass,” $13.4 million. (Review by Lemire)
3. “Unknown,” $12.4 million. (Review by Lemire)
4. “Just Go With It,” $11.1 million. (Review by The AP's David Germain)
5. “I Am Number Four,” $11 million. (Review by Scripps Howard's Barbara Vancheri)
6. “Justin Bieber: Never Say Never,” $9.2 million. (Review by Lemire)
7. “The King’s Speech,” $7.6 million. (Review by Lemire; "Colin Firth stammers eloquently as King George" by Germain)
8. “Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son,” $7.6 million.
9. “Drive Angry,” $5.1 million.
10. “True Grit,” $1.9 million. (Review from Lemire)

-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl

Think you know who will take home Oscar at this year's Academy Awards? Enter our contest for your chance to win this comfortable recliner loveseat.

Learn more about the contest by watching the video below:


(The recliner loveseat is super comfortable. I'm a little disappointed I am not eligible to win the contest.)

Click here to enter the contest. Picks must be in by 11:59 p.m. Feb. 26.

Read more about the nominees here.


-- Cheryl Sadler
CSadler@News-Herald.com

Jeremy Renner in "The Hurt Locker"


The Academy Award nominations came out Tuesday morning, and the big winners were the modern war drama "The Hurt Locker" and the futuristic, special effects-laden "Avatar," with nine nods apiece.

Talk about two different movies. Sure, both have their share of drama and violence, but "The Hurt Locker" is a relatively small, story- and character-driven movie that played at the Cedar Lee Theatre earlier this year, while "Avatar" is running rampant and most theaters -- in 3D and 2D at some -- and hangs its hat on visuals (certainly not storytelling and characters).

Thanks to their various strengths, they are both really good, arguably great movies, and I don't think I'd have a problem with either winning. That said, I still think I would give the nod to Quentin Tarantino's unusual and fascinating "Inglourious Basterds." It may not be the director's best work -- I fear Tarantino never will top "Pulp Fiction" -- but it boasts some great filmmaking. I think about the movie's extended, tension-drenched opening sequence constantly.

To be fair, I haven't seen two of the 10 films nominated for best picture: "The Blind Side" and "An Education." I have little interest in the former and simply missed the latter. I will have to catch both soon, though. (I'm no fan of 10 movies being nominated -- as I see it, it's just a way for five more films to put the honor on their DVD covers -- and the fact that I have more movies to cram into my schedule by March 7 isn't helping matters.

Truth is I have lots of catching up to do in the major categories. So take the following quick list of picks with a big ol' grain of salt. I'll have choices I feel better about on the day of the Oscars in The News-Herald.

Best actor: Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart."
Supporting actor: Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds."
Best actress: Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious."
Supporting actress: Mo'Nique, "Precious."
Best animated feature: "Up."
Director: James Cameron, "Avatar."

I'd write more, but I have movies to watch.

-- Mark Meszoros