On one hand, I'm very pleased that Melissa Leo got noticed for FROZEN RIVER.

(And yeah, I'd love to have seen Argento get a nod for UNE VIELLE MAITRESSE, too.)

On the other hand, it's a shame that the Best Foreign Film process is so byzantine - would love to see the Academy honor more foreign films in general, but then that's not what it's for.

The folks over at The Playlist have sounded off on a number of nominations they would have made, and they're pretty good picks. Not much love for The Reader there, but still.

And though I haven't seen Revolutionary Road, I'd like to see Michael Shannon get more recognition in general, so I'd be happy to see him get a nomination for it. Or for anything, really.

What about the bad boys up for Best Actor-- Mickey Rourke and Sean Penn? Penn disappears into the role of Harvey Milk, and Mickey Rourke's performance was heart-cracking in places (asking the grocery store manager for more hours... working the deli like a Vegas showman....). My guess it will go to Penn, but I'd like to see Mickey Rourke win because I'm a sucker for comebacks. I just hope he doesn't go Male-Diva again if he wins and start stomping off movie sets.... then again, Christian Bale seems to have cornered the Actors Gone Wild market for the time being.