I realize it’s a little bit weak to comment when you’ve not yet seen all the films, so I’ll be brief: Even the surprises this year (Melissa Leo, Richard Jenkins) don’t feel like surprises. Slumdog Millionaire ceased being an underdog even before it got here, and while it a perfectly fine film, it is not a Best Picture. Not, not, not. I think I’m attached to exactly one category: Man on Wire had really best win Best Documentary.
That said, yes, of course, I know the Oscars mean less and less. But there’s still something fun about them. Or there can be. But this year is so epically predictable — and it feels like about 12 movies got all the nominations, which is painful (shall we discuss, however, the horrifying phrase “Oscar nominee Wanted“?) — that my ability to care is taking a big hit.