The Oscar nominations came out this morning.  And for some reason I'm fascinated by them every year even though I've rarely seen any of the movies at the time of their nomination.  So why do I care?  I don't actually watch most of the nominated movies even after the awards are handed out.  Last year, I must admit was pretty good year for me.  Of the Best Picture nominees, I saw three of them (No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood and Juno).  I watched all of them after the Academy Awards and with the exception of No Country For Old Men, I thought the Simpsons movie was better than all of them!  I haven't seen any of this year's nominees except The Dark Knight which got Heath Ledger his posthumous nomination for Best Supporting Actor.  Of course he'll win - who's gonna stiff the dead guy?  I must admit I am intrigued now by Revolutionary Road (Kate Winslet is up for Best Actress).  At first I thought, wow, a movie about the trials and tribulations of a couple living in the 1950's.  What could that mean?  Watching Leave It To Beaver's mom p-m-sing for two hours?  However, I looked up the ending of the story on Wikipedia, and because Wikipedia is right about everything, I'm actually interested in seeing it now.  But my Oscar-nominated viewing is limited and usually well spaced out because, well, most of the movies nominated are downers.  I don't doubt they're good but on a Friday night when I just check my brain at the door, what am I going to pick, The Reader, or Step-Brothers?  Will Ferrell rubbing his things against John C. Reilly's drum set is likely going to win 90 per cent of the time. 

Still just talking about the Oscars makes me feel more cerebral.  That's good enough for me.