Kris, you;re smart not to be taking Sweeney Todd off your predict list till more reviews come in, but at the same time, in keeping with your apparent mission to be the "Anti-O'Neill" you call its reception "below expectations." A lot of people have read all the same reactions/blogs that you have and I'm just shocked that you or anyone would characterize them that way. You are clearly having a hard time backing down from your initial assertion that it would be a non-factor in the awards races. Oh well, at least you have Depp in the Best Actor category now.

I saw The Golden Compass over the weekend, and while it's no LOTR, it's a visual and audial masterpiece. It could get a lot of tech noms, and I hope it does.

I saw The Golden Compass over the weekend, and while it's no LOTR, it's a visual and audial masterpiece. It could get a lot of tech noms, and I hope it does.

The perceived slippage of Sweeney Todd? Aren’t you the only one who hasn’t given it a rave? The reviews coming out this morning are even more hysterically in love with the film.

I attended a screening yesterday evening and the audience ate it up. Huge applause at the end (which seemed sudden…) of the picture. My own feelings on the film are actually closer to yours, but to say that it’s somehow slipping in the race is just not true.

Guys, the only reactions to films aren't necessarily the ones in print...

Also, Poland's full review, which is on MCN today (and spells the whole film out), is much more measured and even though he clearly likes the film, he isn't willing to say it's guaranteed a Best Picture slot.

David Carr also liked it very much, but doesn't see it as a Best Picture. You can go both ways on a film.

"Perceived slippage" doesn't necessarily mean reaction to a film. Morever, reaction to Oscar potential.

I understand you now Kris.

Doesn't "The Kite Runner" demind anyone else of "Hotel Rwanda". Just without two nominatable stars like Cheadle and Okonedo?

er, "remind" obviously.

Kris, I hope you're right on Philip Bosco. He really shocked me in The Savages. I expected to like his performance, but he really went way beyond anything I expected. It's a remarkable, strange, and - as I recall you said - brave performance. While he and Hal Holbrook battle it out for my personal award, I hope Oscar takes notice for both of these guys doing stellar work.

You obviously have not seen the movie"Control" can't even imagine anyone who knows about movies and acting, not putting it high on their lists. Samantha Morton and Sam Riley, were WAY better than almost all of the actors you have put in their perspective categories, not even close either. See the movie, it should be required for all movie critics!

Well, "just me," you obviously haven't been reading have you? I've been a vocal proponent for "Control" since day one. I talk about the film and the love out there for Sam's performance when I can (like this item at Variety regarding a Q&A I moderated last week with Sam at a SAG screening: http://www.variety.com/blog/890000489/post/280018428.html) and I was the first (and so far only) perseon to stick Morton on my predictions this year (http://www.incontention.com/predictions/charts/071015_main.html).

So...yeah...I;ve seen it. I like it.

All of that said, I also understand how the process works, and Sam has been out here only twice for PR on the film. Oscar predictions happen because of saturation, and God love Sam and his brilliant performance, he just isn't concerned with the dog and pony show. That will likely keep him out of the running, but I don't think it's a stretch to see the SAG go for him in a surprise move, just judging from the two enthusiastic SAG screenings of the film I've attended this year.