Make no mistake, this year there is exactly one Oscar race for best picture: ‘Avatar’ vs. ‘The Hurt Locker’. While Avatar plans on riding the “biggest movie of all time” wave all the way to the Academy’s top prize, almost everyone admits that despite eye-popping aesthetics, the story was recycled and banal. ‘The Hurt Locker’ is a flat-out great movie; small but packed with more real excitement and visceral tension than any war movie in recent memory… mostly because director Kathryn Bigelow kicked all politics to the curb and focused distinctly on the intricacies of technological warfare.

Really, neither film screams Oscar in the traditional sense, but with the awards field expanded to 10 nominations, this isn’t exactly a traditional year. So who really deserves to walk away with the trophy? At this point, the most gratifying victor might be the darkest horse in the bunch: the relentlessly original scifi docu-thriller, ‘District 9′

All typical guidelines aside, ‘D-9′ would be a totally deserving winner of Hollywood’s top honor, even if industry insiders refuse to consider anything outside of ‘Avatar’ or ‘Locker’. In terms of photorealistic visuals, big action and unique settings, the film more than rivals Cameron’s trip to Pandora (not to mention, youngster Neill Blomkamp made his film for about $530 million less!). In terms of story, acting and just about everything else that didn’t require a set of 3D glasses, ‘D-9′ absolutely held its own. It even has the kind of deftly depicted political allegory that the Academy usually drools over. Yet, the nomination feels more like pity than potential. But why?

The easy answer is that the film is neither the “unstoppable blockbuster” or the “little indie that could”. It’s a moderately budgeted exercise in creative freedom that isn’t above crass jokes, extraterrestrial shootouts a complete lack of star power. It’s progressive in a way that doesn’t alienate its viewers. And, perhaps, that is destined to be the film’s real triumph in the long-run. Because even though it has my vote for the top prize, the Academy will never be above following suit. For more perspective on the debate about whether or not ‘District 9′ is too real for Oscar, check out this great article from Cinemablend.com