Oscar-inspired cocktails toast the movies

Movie magic will be the toast of Tinseltown on Oscar night, and what better way to bring the festivities couch-side than with a cocktail inspired by this year's nominees.

We asked mixologists from around the country to come up with award-worthy recipes. The results ranged from a classic cocktail that dates to the early days of flight to a bubbly concoction from the ice cream parlor featured in the family-friendly "Up."

A number of the drinks call for simple syrup, a common cocktail ingredient that is equal parts water and sugar. Just heat the water to near boiling, add the sugar and stir until dissolved. Cool and refrigerate in an airtight container.

So, dim the lights, set out the snacks and raise your glasses up, up in the air.

"AVATAR"This cocktail uses Parfait Amour (or the more common blue curacao) to create a drink with a hue similar to the blue skin of the nature-loving Na'Vi in "Avatar." Imagine enjoying it under the magnificent trees of Pandora.Ame Na'viIce11/2 ounces gin1 teaspoon dry vermouth1 teaspoon Parfait Amour or blue curacao1 teaspoon orange juice (no pulp)Orange peel, for garnishIn a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with strip of orange peel.(Recipe from Rafael Jimenez Rivera, bartender at the Lobby Bar of the St. Regis in San Francisco.)"UP IN THE AIR"The skies inspire a cocktail for "Up in the Air," a movie about a corporate downsizing expert with a passion for frequent flying. This is a classic cocktail that dates to 1916, when flying was a newfangled adventure. The Creme de Violette gives the drink a tinge of blue sky.The AviationIce11/2 ounces gin1/2 ounce maraschino liqueur1/3 ounce Creme de Violette (or blue curacao)3/4 ounce lemon juice1/4 ounce simple syrupLemon peelIn a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except the lemon peel. Shake well, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Twist a lemon peel over the surface of the drink to add a few drops of lemon oil.(Recipe from Charles Joly of The Drawing Room in Chicago)"CRAZY HEART"Mixologist Tara Shadzi used bourbon in tribute to Oscar nominee Jeff Bridges' washed-up country-western singer character in "Crazy Heart," and added roses for love.Southern HeartIce11/2 ounces bourbon11/2 ounces elderflower liquorJuice of 1/4 of a lemonRose petals (optional)In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients except the rose petals. Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass. Float fresh rose petals on top.(Recipe from mixologist Tara Shadzi at Skybar at Mondrian in Los Angeles)"DISTRICT 9The movie about displaced aliens inspires a drink with a green theme. Slivers of cucumber add a tentacle effect.Alien Cooler11/2 ounces julienned cucumberIce11/4 ounces premium vodka3/4 ounce Veev (or other acai berry liqueur)3/4 ounce lime juice3/4 ounce simple syrupClub sodaCucumber slice, to garnishPlace the julienned cucumber in a 10-ounce tall, narrow tumbler. Add ice, vodka, Veev, lime juice and simple syrup. Fill the glass with club soda. Stir to mix, then garnish with a cucumber slice on edge of glass.(Recipe from Jon Ojinaga at the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel in San Francisco)"AN EDUCATION"A classic, sophisticated cocktail in tribute to "An Education," a coming-of-age story set in 1960s England.Melrose Manhattan11/2 ounces bourbonSplash of tawny portDash of juice from maraschino cherriesMix and serve straight up (no ice) in a small tulip or snifter glass.(Recipe from the Library Bar at the Warwick Melrose Hotel in Dallas)"INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS"Inspired by Shoshanna, the young woman who gets revenge on the Nazis in wartime Paris - while wearing a stunning red dress - mixologist Tony Roumph used French spirits and bright red pomegranate syrup for this drink.Lady In Red1/2 ounce pomegranate juice1/2 ounce lemon juice1/2 ounce simple syrupIce2 ounces Remy Martin VSOP1 ounce Domaine de Canton ginger liqueurCandied ginger and pomegranate seeds, to garnishIn a liquid measuring cup, stir together the pomegranate juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. Measure out 1 ounce of this mixture, then reserve the rest for another use.In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine the 1 ounce of pomegranate-lemon syrup, Remy Martin VSOP and the ginger liqueur. Shake, then strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a slice of candied ginger and several pomegranate seeds.(Recipe from Tony Roumph at the Cityhouse Restaurant at the Parc 55 Hotel in San Francisco)"JULIE JULIA"This drink is named Vin Amer Fizz in tribute to Julia Child and her legacy of bringing classic French dishes to American households. Vin is French for wine, amer means bitter, and fizz stands for good times."Julie Julia" follows the parallel stories of Child, working on her cookbook "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" during the postwar years, and Julie Powell, a modern young woman who shakes up her life by making the recipes.In true artisan fashion, mixologist Jackson Cannon starts with house-made rose vermouth. But for us American servantless cooks, a store brand works just fine.Vin Amer Fizz2 ounces rose vermouth1 ounce apricot brandy1/2 ounce lemon juice1 egg white (or an equivalent amount of pasteurized egg white product, depending on preference)IceChampagneIn a cocktail shaker, combine the vermouth, apricot brandy, lemon juice and egg white. Shake well to emulsify. Add ice, then shake again to chill. Strain into a coupe or martini glass. Top with Champagne.(Recipe from Jackson Cannon of Eastern Standard Kitchen Drinks in Boston)"A SERIOUS MAN"The approaching storm at the end of "A Serious Man" - about a professor whose life is falling apart - inspired this drink, a take on the dark 'n' stormy.A Serious ManJuice of 1/2 lime3 ounces ginger beer21/2 ounces premium dark rumLime peel, to garnishPour the lime juice into a tall glass. Fill with ice. Add the ginger beer, then pour the rum gently on top so it "floats." Garnish with a strip of lime peel.(Recipe from Bryan Ranere of Foreign Cinema in San Francisco)"UP""Up," a movie about an old man and his young neighbor who fly in a balloon-powered house to South America, includes some San Francisco Bay area landmarks, including the popular ice cream parlor, Fenton's Creamery, in Oakland. Fenton's master blender Scott Whidden came up with this recipe he says will take you "Up, up and away!"Celebration Ice Cream FloatItalian sparkling water1/4 ounce orange syrup (such as Torani)Premium vanilla ice creamFill a tall glass with sparkling water and the orange syrup. Mix, then stir 1 teaspoon of the ice cream into the soda until frothy. Gently top the soda with a scoop of ice cream.(Recipe from Scott Whidden of Fenton's Creamery in Oakland, Calif.)False12182000Academy Award nominee "A Serious Man" is the inspiration for this cocktail named A Serious Man.Associated PressFalse