Witty Oscar title.

Right.

+ Dustin Lance Black was nominated for Original Screenplay for Milk. His work was touching and loaded with surprising bits of humor.

- Carter Burwell's score for In Bruges was shut out. A disappointment, to be sure, but I know it's a great score, and that's what matters. (+) However, it was nominated for Original Screenplay. That's something, right?

+ Amongst the nominees for Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger (one of the surest bets imaginable), Josh Brolin (who was quite good) and...Robert Downey, Jr...for Tropic Thunder! I don't know what to say.

+ Richard Jenkins was nominated for Best Actor for The Visitor. Haven't seen the film, but it's nice to see Jenkins get recognized, especially since he was misused in higher-profile films from last year (Burn After Reading, Step Brothers).

+ Danny Elfman was nominated for his score to Milk. I gotta be honest: though it was very good, it was (to my ears) barely recognizable as Elfman. Who knows? That might give it an edge.

+ The nominees for Best Animated Feature: Bolt, Kung Fu Panda and WALL-E. The rare occurence where I've seen (and enjoyed) every one of the nominees. It'll likely go to WALL-E, but Bolt would be a nice surprise.

+ Chris Dickens, whose editing I've enjoyed in Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, is now an Oscar nominee (for Slumdog Millionaire).

? Anne Hathaway was nominated for Rachel Getting Married. Will Bride Wars be to Hathaway what Norbit was to Eddie Murphy two years ago? (Okay, I'm willing to concede that Norbit may have been a factor in his loss.)

- Another year, another nomination for Roger Deakins (shared with Chris Menges for The Reader). They better get it right this time.

? Milk was nominated for Costume Design. I'm even more speechless at this than I was at the nod for Robert Downey, Jr.

+ Presto was nominated for Animated Short. I really hope it wins.

+ As expected, The Dark Knight was nominated. The categories: Supporting Actor, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Editing, Make-Up, Sound, Sound Editing and Art Direction, but not Picture (yeah!) or Original Score (fuck yeah!).

All this and Hugh Jackman is hosting. February 22nd can't get here fast enough.