The final countdown to the 2010 Oscars has begun, with The Hurt Locker¹ and Avatar going head-to-head for the coveted² best picture award.

2010年奥斯卡颁奖典礼开始倒数计时，《拆弹部队》和《阿凡达》就最佳影片奖展开了激烈竞争。

The Hurt Locker is tipped to win the best picture Oscar

James Cameron's 3D sci-fi juggernaut（世界主宰，强大的破坏力） , which has taken more than $2bn (£1.32bn) at the box office, had looked like a clear favourite in the early part of the year.

But his ex-wife Kathryn Bigelow's Iraq bomb disposal（排弹） drama is now being tipped in Tinseltown（浮华城） to take the prize.

If it wins, it will be the lowest-grossing best picture winner in Oscars history with earnings³ of around $15m (£9.9m).

Both films lead the way at the 82nd Academy Awards with nine nominations⁵ each.

But with 10 films in the running for best picture and a change in the voting system, the way is still open for a major Oscar upset.

Quentin Tarantino's eight times nominated World War II fantasy Inglourious Basterds could benefit from a split vote.

British hopes

Cameron and Bigelow also go against each other in the best director category with Bigelow heavily tipped to win.

Industry paper The Hollywood Reporter on Friday predicted wins for Bigelow for both best picture and director.

If Bigelow is named best director she would be first female to win - only four women have ever been nominated.

Jeff Bridges is widely expected to take best actor for Crazy Heart.

The 60-year-old has swept the awards season this year, winning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild⁶ Awards for his portrayal⁷ of an alcoholic⁸ country singer.

British hopes in the acting⁹ categories include Colin Firth, Dame¹⁰ Helen Mirren and Carey Mulligan.

Firth, up against Bridges for his Bafta-winning performance in A Single Man told the BBC he did not expect to be making an Oscar speech.

"I'm not sure I'll get the chance. I think I might have peaked," he admitted at the Independent Spirit Awards on Friday.

Likewise, Sandra Bullock is expected to win best actress for American football drama The Blind Side.

But she has close competition from Meryl Streep, whose role in Julie and Julia has earned her a record 16th Oscar nomination⁴.

She is also up against Carey Mulligan, whose Bafta win for An Education raised her profile in the final few days of voting.