I can’t tell you how much I hated Ellen DeGeneres as the Oscar host last year, especially after just the previous year Jon Stewart totally blew it away with a great hosting session. I mean the event is so long, it really makes a difference who is hosting it to keep you interested during the inevitable slow bits.

I watch from the U.K. and I pretty much give up my sleep for the day the Oscars are on because it’s goes on right through the night and if it’s not the right host then I could probably find myself drifting off to sleep.

Thank god they got the right host this time round.

So now attention will focus on the next few months on what movies are award worthy. If I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ve seen anything this year that I could honestly give the Best Film nomination to. The Academy wouldn’t have the balls to nominate something like The Bourne Ultimatum but apart from that there isn’t much else.

Maybe, 3:1o to Yuma is worth a shout. It is a terrific movie.

No doubt Atonement will be in the running for something, although it’s grossly over-rated in my opinion. Apparently Angelina Jolie’s performance in A Mighty Heart is impressive, so she could be up for something next year. Cate Blanchett will no doubt get her annual nomination, this time for Best Supporting Actress and let’s be honest she’s playing a man… so it’s almost guaranteed she will win.

But there’s still lots of movies to see yet and we will soon be hitting the ’serious’ season, so most of what will be nominated is still being kept from us at the time being. Have you seen anything this year that you think deserves some recognition?

source – variety