And the nominees are...

...no doubt very pleased right now. And Thor got to announce them on Thorsday. Tell me this joke isn't blowing up Twitter right now.

- Nine nominees for Best Picture. I've only seen three.

- No one is going to convince me that Despicable Me 2 (which was nominated) is a better film than Monsters University (which wasn't). Nice that The Croods and Frozen were nominated, though.

- The good news is that Roger Deakins is once more a nominee. The bad news is that the unpleasant, hateful-looking film for which he is nominated - Prisoners - will forever be known as an Academy Award-nominated movie.

- Phedon Papamichael, who I've been a fan of ever since Mouse Hunt, earns his first nomination for Nebraska. (The Academy must really love black-and-white.)

- I would've thought for sure that Stuart Dryburgh was a lock for his breath-taking work on The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

- Still, this is a moot point, for Emmanuel Lubezki will (not might, not could...will) take home the prize for Gravity.

- Rush and The Butler, once thought of as potential Oscar darlings, were completely shut out. I guess this means no third nomination for Ruth Carter (the latter's talented costume designer).

- Not many people consider Bruce Broughton for writing film scores these days, which is nothing short of a tragedy. Still, it it quite gratifying that he received a nomination for Best Song. Maybe, this will raise his profile somewhat.

- A funny thing this business we call show. Ethan Hawke, star of one of the best-reviewed films of the year (Before Midnight) and one of the worst-reviewed (Getaway) is once again an Oscar-nominee, this time for writing the former.

- I can only imagine that the pickings were slim this year (which is what happens when you favor CGI over stuff you can feel), which would explain a Best Make-Up nomination for Bad Grandpa.

- The Lone Ranger was also nominated in this category, which will go nicely with its Best Visual Effects nomination. In your face, Golden Raspberry Awards, you trend-chasing dingleberries! Worst Picture nomination, my balls.