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 a few of the nominees.

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

Note: A number of the drinks call for simple syrup, a common cocktail ingredient that is equal parts sugar and water. To make, heat 1 cup of water to near boiling. Add 2 cups of sugar, stirring until dissolved. Let cool before using. Refrigerate in an airtight container.

AVATAR: This cocktail uses 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 Tree of Life.

AME NA'VI

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 ounces gin

1 teaspoon dry vermouth

1 teaspoon blue curacao

1 teaspoon orange juice (no pulp)

Orange peel, for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake, then strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with strip of orange peel.

CRAZY HEART: Mixologist Tara Shadzi used bourbon in tribute to Jeff Bridges' washed-up country-western singer character.

SOUTHERN HEART

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 ounces bourbon

1 ounces elderflower liquor

Juice of of a lemon

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine all ingredients. Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass.

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.

VIN AMER FIZZ

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

2 ounces rose vermouth

1 ounce apricot brandy

ounce lemon juice

1 egg white

Ice

Champagne

In 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.

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 FLOAT

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Italian sparkling water

ounce orange syrup (such as Torani)

Premium vanilla ice cream

Fill 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.

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 new-fangled adventure. The blue curacao gives the drink a tinge of blue sky.

THE AVIATION

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

Ice

1 ounces gin

ounce maraschino liqueur

1/3 ounce blue curacao

ounce lemon juice

ounce simple syrup

Lemon peel

In 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.

DISTRICT 9: The movie about displaced aliens inspires a drink with a green theme. Slivers of cucumber add a tentacle effect.

ALIEN COOLER

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 1

1 ounces julienned cucumber

Ice

1 ounces premium vodka

ounce Veev ( or other acai berry liquer)

ounce lime juice

ounce simple syrup

Club soda

Cucumber slice, to garnish

Place 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.