They could make a crazy decision and give it to Tree of Life (which I loved), I predict not much for Hugo although it was very enjoyable.

Probably the best film I've seen in the last five years.

The second half sags, and I still don't think Brad Pitt can act worth a nickle, but it's beautifully shot (as ever), it evokes childhood with grace and clarity and the first hour quite simply left me breathless.

It's been a very long time since a film affected me the way this has.

I would caveat all of the above by noting that I'm a huge Malick fanboy and would probably award him Oscars for his rushes, given the chance.

in New York. It was the right place to see it - you could have heard a pin drop. It's a good film, but it won't win anything.

Max Von Sydow has been nominated for this film in which he doesn't actually speak, though he gives a good performance and seeing as that worked for John Mills in Ryan's Daughter, Holly Hunter in The Piano and any of the cast of The Artist then he might well pull it off.

I've seen The Tree Of Life and thout it was hard work, I'm worried War Horse will undo all the good work the play has done and I've not seen any of the others.

...in the documentary section?

My personal choice would have to be The Artist. I absolutely loved it .... it was a breath of fresh air. That said I wouldn't be too disappointed if it went to Moneyball. I'm not a baseball fan, in fact I know next to nothing about baseball, but the film gripped me from the off.

The Help too had a lot to commend it .... an outside bet maybe (and definitely Jessica Chastain for best supporting actress - ooooohhhh sexxxxaaaayyyy !)

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and thoroughly enjoyed it... but not sure it's worthy of the 'Best Film' accolade. Art Direction may be its best shout. Beautiful to look at.

A joy from start to finish

Great to see him get a nomination.

was charming and very entertaining but Best Film? Not a chance. The Academy love movies about their craft, that's probably why Hugo got so many nominations too (I haven't seen it).

I am baffled by the inclusion of Midnight in Paris. Many of Woody Allen's other late-period offerings are far superior: Whatever Works, Anything Else, Vicki Cristina Barcelona, even Melinda and Melinda. I thought Midnight in Paris was an unfunny, smug, spot-the-artist indulgence.

I saw a trailer recently for 'Extremely Loud...' and thought it was a pisstake. The title just makes me think of Jimmy Page and Jack White.

Not seen all of the nominees, but surely Drive deserves more than a single nomination for frickin Sound Editing. And how Tilda Swinton hasn't been nominated for Best Actress for Kevin is beyond me. Apart from that though...