[LSPoorEeyorick]

The awards prediction community is split on whether Up deserves a slot or not. (I think it does, personally.)

Precious was indeed quite good. Extremely effective with character and emotional storytelling - but there were directing choices that I thought didn't match the quality of the rest of the film. The fantasy sequences didn't always work for me, but I see why he used them. I think MoNique is a lock for supporting, and Sidibe is also quite possible.

The Fantastic Mr. Fox was good, but overrated by critics. I was expecting more. I really did enjoy the animation, and the bordering-on-adult humor, but there was something that didn't totally jive with me. Loved the musical Robin Hood reference, since that Disney flick was a favorite in my youth.

I won't make predix on Oscar contenders without seeing the films, and at this point, of the major contenders (as noted by the awards watching communities, not based on my taste) I've only seen:
* An Education
* (500) Days of Summer
* Julie & Julia
* Precious
* Up
* District 9
* The Informant!

Terribly out of our usual loop for not having yet seen The Hurt Locker, The Cove, Bright Star, The Road, and A Serious Man. Films that are not out yet that we'll need to see include Up in the Air, The Lovely Bones, Nine, and A Single Man.