With the Oscar nominations at the front of everyone’s mind, the honorees at the Academy’s separate Sci-Tech Awards ceremony — known to casual viewers only via a video clip, usually presented by a bright-eyed ingenue — tend to get short shrift. So let’s take a moment to applaud veteran visual effects supervisor Bill Taylor, who will be receiving the Academy’s John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation. A member of the Academy’s Board of Governor, Taylor’s career (and AMPAS membership) spans over 40 years, taking in such such films as the original “The Thing,” “Glory,” “Cape Fear,” “The Fast and the Furious” and, most recently, “Lawless.” It’s his second special award from the Academy: his first, in 1981, was in recognition of his innovations in the area of aerial image optical printing. [AMPAS]

Here’s one precursor Naomi Watts has that her Best Actress Oscar rivals don’t: a Goya nomination, as Spanish production “The Impossible” landed 14 nods for the local awards. [Hollywood Reporter]

Joe Reid is done with predicting the 2012 Oscar nominees, swiftly moving on to the contenders for next year’s awards. I feel faint. [Film.com]

Steve Pond notes the abundance of past winners in the Best Director lineup — and even Ben Affleck is a former Oscar champ in another category. [The Wrap]

Glenn Whipp considers yesterday’s unpopular DGA nomination for Tom Hooper, and suggests “Les Mis” left voters “weak in the knees, not to mention their heads.” [LA Times]

While detractors pile on, I’m reminded of David Chen’s recent argument in favor of Hooper’s directorial decisions. [/Film]

Larry Rohter talks to Pablo Larrain, the Chilean director of the Oscar-shortlisted “No,” about his accidental Pinochet trilogy (the first two instalments of which, by the way, are as terrific as the last). [The Carpetbagger]

BAFTA executives have hailed this morning’s nominations as “terrific” and “Diverse.” That is as may be, but it’d be surprising if they said otherwise. [Screen]

While many are cheering the mostly female lineup for BAFTA’s Rising Star Award, Katy Brand thinks it’s beside the point — she’s more concerned with there being more female writers and directors to give them roles. [The Telegraph]  

Editors Chris Dickens (a former Oscar winner for “Slumdog Millionaire”) and Melanie Oliver discuss the process of assembling “Les Mis.” Will they make the Oscar cut? (Sorry.) [Below the Line]