The Oscar Noms

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Hmmm...no Denzel or Russell. I guess that completes the shutting out of American Gangster, which apparently wasn't as good as I thought it was. Props, however, to the Academy for nominating a guy who gets in a nude knife fight in his role. Nice.

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Why are there even nominees that aren't Javier Bardem?

Performance by an actress in a leading role
I'd love to say that Ellen Page is a lock for this, but...I haven't seen the other movies. Would have been nice to see Jodie Foster here as well.

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Tilda Swinton should win this. That being said, Cate Blanchett will win, as she's the only thing anyone ever talks about in that Bob Dylan movie.

Best documentary feature
Please, Jesus, please don't let Michael Moore win another one of these.

Achievement in film editing
I would be surprised if No Country for Old Men won this, as they apparently edited the last reel right out of the film.

Achievement in makeup
Rick Baker wins this almost every time he's nominated (6 for 10), but I suspect he won't win this year, because that would mean Norbit wins an Oscar. Norbit. Really.

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song and Score)
Due to a loophole exploited by almost every musical-to-movie adaptation (Chicago, Phantom of the Opera, Dreamgirls, etc.), Sweeney Todd gets shut out of two categories because it remained faithful to the original musical. That soundtrack is better than any nominee in either category.

Achievement in visual effects
Transformers all the way, even if the effects do tend to get lost in Michael Bay's horrendous editing.

Adapted screenplay
The only real competition for No Country for Old Men is There Will Be Blood, which is the loosest of adaptations of an Upton Sinclair novel and really shouldn't be here.

Original screenplay
It'd be nice to see Juno win this.

Achievement in directing
You have to give this to the Coens. Everything else is pretty standard.

Best motion picture of the year
I think you know my pick on this one. It's nice to see Juno in there, but it won't win.

Be sure to tune in on the 24th to see the shortest and least exciting Oscar telecast in history.

Thanks, Writers Guild!