We obliged our feline friends by reimagining eight movies — with the aid and inspiration of our Twitter followers — starring cats instead of humans. Really, we can only dream of such cinematic purrfection.

The first one out the gate? Why, "The Great Catsby," of course. F. Scott Fitzgerald concluded that the pursuit of the American dream could only lead to a dirty litter box at best, after all.

Originally published on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011.

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Mila Kunis has it all — she can act, she's gorgeous, she's funny and she's even willing to make out with other hot chicks.

The petite beauty bounds into theaters this weekend in "Oz: The Great and Powerful," in which she plays a certain green-skinned villainess who may have had a lot to do with your childhood nightmares. "I'll get you, my pretty — and your little dog, too!"

As she's quite the super-sexy treat, this Mila Kunis edition of our Hot People Looking Hot galleries should prove pretty darn tasty.

We know, it doesn't make sense. But what other conclusion could we draw from this, a page from the Hollywood Movie High School yearbook? It features future VIPs like Bruce Wayne and Elle Woods before they hit the big time, Nina Sayers before she donned the Black Swan's feathers, Anton Chigurh before he grew out his bangs in "No Country For Old Men."

Hollywood Movie High School Rules!

But do you love it enough to ink a tribute to Joe Pesci into your skin, permanently?

They say that beauty is skin-deep, but there's no adage for how deep fandom goes. These 25 hardcore fans of movies from, yes, "Home Alone" to "Black Swan" proudly display their devotion on their bodies in the form of intricate ink.

Scroll on to see, and tell us in the comments how you would pay body art tribute to your favorite flick.

1. 'The Dark Knight'

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2. 'Fight Club'

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3. 'Up'

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4. 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'

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5. 'Alien'

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6. 'Jurassic Park'

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7. 'Inglourious Basterds'

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8. 'Edward Scissorhands'

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9. 'The Shining'

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10. 'Home Alone'

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11. 'Black Swan'

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12. 'The Goonies'

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13. 'Star Wars'

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14. 'The Twilight Saga'

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15. 'The Lord of the Rings'

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16. 'Harry Potter'

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17. 'The Hunger Games'

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18. 'A Nightmare on Elm Street'

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19. 'The Exorcist'

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20. 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy'

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21. 'Star Trek'

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22. 'Labyrinth'

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23. 'Pulp Fiction'

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24. 'Napoleon Dynamite'

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25. 'The Human Centipede'

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Getty Images

Actress-turned-mother Natalie Portman is returning to work for the first time since nabbing the Best Actress Oscar for "Black Swan" and going on maternity leave. The brunette beauty has officially signed on to join not one, but two upcoming films by writer/ director/ savant Terrence Malick.

The first, a drama entitled "Knight of the Cups," begins shooting this summer and also stars Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett and Isabel Lucas, Deadline reports.

After that comes "Lawless," a musical drama (we're not sure what that means either) whose cast includes Rooney Mara, Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Haley Bennett and Cate Blanchett (one of Malick's favorites, clearly). This second feature is slated to shoot this fall, immediately following "Knight of the Cups."

This marks not only Portman's return to the big screen after spending many months chillin' with little Aleph, but also her first time working with the Palme d'Or winner and current double-Oscar-nominee Malick. If the Academy has any gauge of true talent — and we're pretty sure it does — then a pairing of these two favorites should be nothing short of spectacular.

We only hope Mr. Portman Millepied can hold down the fort at home while Portman gets back into the swing of being an international movie star.

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The "Woman" of the title is kind of a pain in the butt, what with all the murdering and all; but not every similarly clad woman is quite so gloomy. Some of our favorite filmic females have donned a dark look for some memorable roles, no doubt bolstered by the fact that black is slimming.

As Wesley Snipes said in "Passenger 57": "Always bet on black."

Fox Searchlight

How do we love thee, "Black Swan?" Let us count the ways.

First, you are probably the only movie that could convince two of America's biggest mainstream sex symbols to get that kind of raunchy in the name of art. We love you for your twisted plot, the Portman child whose conception you are in some way responsible for, and last, but not least, the seemingly endless number of jerks coming out of the woodwork saying they had a hand in making you.

Following the filing of a lawsuit by two interns who claim Fox violated wage laws by employing unpaid staffers, the studio has responded with what may be their biggest twist ending: the interns never worked there at all. (Cue spooky "Swan Lake" music).

Deadline reports that Fox Filmed Entertainment released a statement earlier today refuting the class action suit filed by Alex Footman and Eric Glatt, who claim that they, as well as over 100 other interns, are owed back pay for their gruntwork.

Fox responded by saying, "Now that we have had a chance to review this suit, it is clear that these are completely meritless claims aimed solely at getting press coverage for the litigants and their attorneys. These interns were not even retained by Fox Searchlight and, in fact, were working for the production company that made 'Black Swan' well before Fox Searchlight even acquired its rights to the film. Theses individuals were never employed as interns or retained in any capacity by Fox Searchlight, which has a proud history of supporting and fostering productive internships. We look forward to aggressively fighting these groundless, opportunistic accusations."

This pas de deux is getting unusually interesting.

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In honor of this sexy pairing -- thank you, casting gods! -- we've compiled our picks for the hottest on-screen couples to grace the silver screen this century (ie, since 2000). Guys, loosen up that collar. Ladies, turn on that AC.

Fox Searchlight

Who says there are no interesting roles for women anymore?

The nominees for this year's MTV Movie Award for Best Female Performance acted in movies of all genres, from comedy to fantasy to drama to horror/thriller. They performed magic spells, sprouted feathers, lied about their sexual and romantic lives, fell in love with vampires.

And they didn't just hold their own against the boys -- some of them carried the movies entirely on their shoulders. Chicks rule! Check out the lovely and talented nominees for Best Female Performance.

Emma Stone, 'Easy A'

Screen Gems

Olive, the protagonist of "Easy A" -- while explaining how she only pretended to be the school slut -- laments that they don't make teen movies like John Hughes did anymore. We thought so, too... until "Easy A" came along. In one of last year's most refreshing surprises, Emma Stone is captivating and hilarious, barreling through the film like the great screen comediennes of old. She's charmed us before in movies like "Zombieland" and "The House Bunny," but this is Stone's star-making role, and she shines in it. Our grade for her? Oh, that's easy...

Emma Watson, 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'

Warner Bros.

When we first met Hermione Granger, she was an impertinent know-it-all who got by on "books and cleverness." But over the years she's matured into a beautiful young woman, one of Harry Potter's best friends and the person who sticks by him when their search for the Horcruxes seems darkest. All credit to Watson for imbuing Hermione with not just strength and smarts, but grace. (Also, for never having gone through an awkward phase. We're jealous.) Suggestion: When the series is over, how about giving Hermione her own spinoff? Hmm?

Jennifer Aniston, 'Just Go With It'

Columbia Pictures

At 42, Aniston is the elder stateswoman of this bunch. But baby, she's still got it. She plays Adam Sandler's office manager, who poses as his estranged wife so that he can win over  a younger woman -- and not only does she cheerfully go up against a model-gorgeous 24-year-old, but (spoiler alert) she wins. Good choice, Adam. She may have made some clunkers, but no matter what, we're suckers for anything starring the woman the "New Yorker" admiringly describes as "a genre unto herself."

Kristen Stewart, 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'

Summit

Lucky Kristen Stewart. In "Eclipse," she gets to make out with both Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. Rough life, huh? But that's not why she's nominated for a Best Female Performance award. Love Bella or hate her, she's watchable because she's real, with human reactions to the strange things going on around her. "Eclipse" gives us a Bella who knows increasingly what she wants (Edward + being a vampire), and as played by the gifted Stewart, she's someone we can envy, sympathize with and relate to all at once.

Natalie Portman, 'Black Swan'

Fox Searchlight

Remember when Natalie Portman was just a tough-but-cute kid in "The Professional" and "Beautiful Girls"? She's all grown up now, and how -- coming on to the ballet director, taking drugs, making out with Mila Kunis... oh wait, that was her character. But Portman's performance is a thing of beauty. She's timid and shy one minute, wild and ferocious the next; and the role justifiably earned Portman an Academy Award. Frankly, whether or not she did her own dancing in the movie is beside the point. As an actress, this little duckling has transformed into a swan.

Vote for the Best Female Performance nominees

Warner Bros.

Oscars, schmoscars. When it comes to the best movie of 2010, our friends at the MTV Movie Awards have their own ideas about which films should make the cut.

It was, in the end, a pretty cool year for movies. In 2011, we feasted on twisty thrillers, fantasy flicks about wizards and vampires, and a movie about some site called Facebook. All of them made us think, jump, swoon, laugh and even cry.

Who cares what the Academy thinks? We've got your Best Movie nominees right here.

'Black Swan'

Fox Searchlight

When's the last time you were this freaked out... by a ballet movie? Darren Aronofsky, you devil, you. Natalie Portman's prima ballerina Nina Sayers tumbles down the rabbit hole -- or should we say, swan hole -- in a deliciously disturbing movie that's part dance film, part psychological thriller, part horror movie. Sort of like "Center Stage" meets "The Wrestler" meets "The Shining." And may we say, where is Vincent Cassel's award for Awesomest Scenery-Chewer?

'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1'

Warner Bros.

Road trip! "Deathly Hallows" sees Harry, Hermione and Ron setting off to look for the Horcruxes that could help destroy Voldemort. The end is near, and accordingly, tension infuses every aspect of the story, expertly played by Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, whose acting has matured by leaps and bounds since the series began. Their journey has us aching with care for these characters we love -- and, we'll admit it, sobbing uncontrollably over a certain tiny beloved character's funeral.

'Inception'

Warner Bros.

An original premise, stylish visuals, a terrific cast... Whether or not you obsessed over the ending (did the top fall or not, dammit?!), and whether or not you thought "Inception" BLEW YOUR MIND OMG, there's no denying that this was a brainy summer movie that had people talking, puzzling and theorizing for months. And that's not something you see every day in your garden-variety blockbuster. Kudos to Christopher Nolan, a director who's not afraid to dream a little bigger, darling.

'The Social Network'

Columbia Pictures

Who knew the story behind Facebook would prove every bit as entertaining as Facebook itself? In David Fincher's well-crafted saga of Mark Zuckerberg vs. The World we get drama, teen hijinks, high-stakes revenge, glory, betrayal and shirtless Justin Timberlake. As Zuckerberg, Jesse Eisenberg breaks free from his usual geek roles... OK, well, he's still a geek. But he's a geek and a bully who intrigues us at every turn, giving us hope that someday we, too, could alienate all our friends and make a gazillion dollars.

'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'

Summit

"Eclipse" earned $700 million at the worldwide box office, yet was ignored by the Oscars. Fie on you, Academy! Fie! Granted, Twi-Hards would probably have loved this movie no matter how good it was; but fortunately it was good, with thrilling fight scenes, comedic moments, two swoon-worthy romances and plenty to keep fans of both Team Edward and Team Jacob happy. (We don't know about you, but we always sleep half-naked when we go camping.) The bar's been set. Your move, "Breaking Dawn."

Vote for the Best Movie nominees

Fox Searchlight

All that doppelganger drama in "Black Swan" isn't half as exciting as what's been playing out off screen between Natalie Portman and her ballet double, Sarah Lane.

First, Lane got her tutu in a twist and claimed she did most of Portman's footwork, then director Darren Aronofsky, co-star Mila Kunis, and choreographer Benjamin Millipied all cried fowl — er, foul — and said that just wasn't so.

Now Portman has stopped dancing around the issue and is setting the record straight.

"I had a chance to make something beautiful with this film," she told E! Online, "and I don't want to give in to the gossip."

Okaaaay… We understand that Portman could give a flying fouetté, but does she kinda, maybe think she should have included Lane in her Oscar acceptance speech?

"I don't remember my Oscar speech at all, and I'm actually too embarrassed to watch it," said Portman.

Gotcha. Though she refused to ruffle any feathers by feeding into the "Black Swan" controversy, Portman didn't stay mum when talking about her next project: motherhood.

"I have to admit, it's really fun being able to take it easy and not worry about food," said the "Your Highness" star, who admits a weakness for ice cream and desserts. "At the same time you have to be healthy because there is a person inside me."

And we assume that person's name is not Sarah Lane.

Fox Searchlight

Last week, 27-year-old ballet soloist Sarah Lane dropped a bombshell that set the town ablaze with what barely qualifies as scandal, claiming she actually did most of the dancing in "Black Swan" for Natalie Portman and was told to keep her trap shut during Oscar season. Boo-frickin'-hoo.

This argument is ridiculous, of course, since the soul of Portman's performance is not her dancing but whether she pulls off the arc of mental disintegration the character goes through, which she does in spades. Would "Raging Bull" be less compelling if we told you that was De Niro in a fat suit at the end instead of really gaining all that weight? (For the record, it was real Oscar flab.) Would Arnold Schwarzenegger be less awesome in "Terminator 2" if you knew Arnie didn't have a metal endoskeleton grafted onto the bones under his skin? Okay, Arnold's not a robot (we think), but you get the idea.

"Natalie danced her ass off," said co-star Mila Kunis in Portman's defense to Entertainment Weekly. "She'll tell you [that], no, she was not on pointe when she did a fouetté [turn]. No one's going to deny that. But she did do every ounce of every one of her dances. [Lane] wasn't used for everything. It was more like a safety net. If Nat wasn't able to do something, you'd have a safety net. The same thing that I had — I had a double as a safety net. We all did. No one ever denied it."

If the word of a super-hottie isn't enough to curb your suspicion, the guy who wrestled the performance from her, director Darren Aronofsky, chimed in with a statement through Fox Searchlight:

"There are 139 dance shots in the film," said the director. "111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math that’s 80-percent Natalie Portman. What about duration? … If we were judging by time over 90-percent would be Natalie Portman."

There you go. If you're still upset that Portman possibly took advantage of the public/Academy Awards' trust, we'd also like to point out that Dustin Hoffman didn't really count all those toothpicks in "Rain Man" either, Tom Cruise did between shots then whispered it in his ear before the take.

Aronofsky concluded, "I am responding to this to put this to rest and to defend my actor. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don’t want anyone to think that’s not her they are watching. It is.”

Fox Searchlight

"Black Swan" director Darren Aronofsky is a visionary, no question. (Just look back at his body of work - from "Pi" to "The Wrestler," Aronofsky likes his tales dark and gritty.)

What he also is? A terrific actor's director. Over the brief span of his young career, he's wrung out two Oscar-nominated lead performances (Mickey Rourke for "The Wrestler" and Ellen Burstyn for "Requiem for a Dream") and a win for Natalie Portman's searing turn in "Black Swan."

In Aronofsky's fevered take on the inner-workings of the ballet world, Portman plays prima ballerina Nina. Treated at home like an infant by her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), and loathed by her peers in her New York ballet company, Nina has it rough. Thing start to look up once she is cast as the lead in a production of "Swan Lake."

The role requires that she embody both the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan. While she has no problem tapping into her vulnerable sweet side, she struggles to let herself go and embody the darkness needed for the other role. With the help of a new, and very sexy member of the company, Lily (Mila Kunis), Nina goes down the rabbit hole to uncover a side of herself she never knew she had.

And we, in turn, have never seen Portman like this before.  The diminutive beauty lost a ton of weight for the role, and boy does it show. Those shoulder blades! That sunk in jaw line! She also displays impressive dancing skills - the result of a year of intensive training for the role.

But Portman doesn't merely make a physical transformation. With a voice racketed up a few octaves higher than usual, Portman plays Nina as so high strung and hell bent on being perfect it's suffocating to watch.When she finally owns the Black Swan in the climax, Portman, like Nina, does a 360 to reveal a dark, carnal side we only got a glimpse of in her Oscar-nominated supporting turn in "Closer."

It's enough to make us forget her stiff turn as Queen Amidala.

Extras! Included are enough features to shake your tail feather at! Best of all is a 49-minute making-of documentary, "Black Swan Metamorphosis." Divided into three chapters, the behind-the-scenes look goes into how Aronofsky brought his Oscar-winning tale to the screen. Also included is the film's creeptastic trailer and a bunch of additional featurettes that tackle everything from Portman's training to the cinematography. Altogether this is one hefty disc.

Fox Searchlight

You might not be able to dance away with an Academy Award in this special giveaway, but you sure can dance away with an Oscar-winning DVD.

"Black Swan" earned Natalie Portman a Best Actress gong for her turn as Nina, a ballerina who discovers her dark side when she competes with another dancer (Mila Kunis) for a role in the classic ballet "Swan Lake." Things get all kinds of twisty – and a little sexy -- when she wins the part.

Now it's your turn to feel like a winner. We're giving away two copies of "Black Swan" on DVD, which is available in stores this week.

Here's how to enter:

First, follow us on Twitter, then tweet the following, "We’re giving away 'Black Swan' DVDs to two lucky followers. RT (copy/paste) to enter! Rules: http://cot.ag/gGYpsL".

(We recommend using the copy ‘n’ paste form of RTing, rather than just clicking “retweet.” Just sayin’).

You have from now until 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 30, to enter.

Reminder: you’ve gotta live in the USA and be at least 13 years old to be eligible to win. Click here for complete rules and further details.

Fox Searchlight

Natalie Portman has been called many things over the past few months: superstar, A-lister, Oscar winner. But today she is being called something else: big, fat, dirty liar.

Okay, maybe not big or fat, but the dance community is certainly unhappy with Portman, as the latest issue of Dance Magazine contains allegations from Portman's dancing double on "Black Swan" that Portman didn't actually do the legwork in her Oscar winning performance.

And that Oscar backlash should be hitting right about... now.

"They were trying to create this facade that she had become a ballerina in a year and a half," dancing double Sarah Lane said in the Dance Magazine interview, claiming that Fox Searchlight ordered her to stop giving interviews during award season in order to hush up her role in the movie. "So I knew they didn't want to publicize anything about me."

She went on to add, "how unfortunate it is that, as professional dancers, we work so hard, but people can actually believe that it's easy enough to do it in a year. That's the thing that bothered me the most."

As E! Online points out, this is just the latest controversy for Portman, who has become a popular target seemingly from the moment she hit the stage to accept her Academy Award for her role in "Black Swan" as a ballerina who becomes unhinged after landing the lead role in "Swan Lake."

First, women's groups got their knickers in a twist over Portman's comments that motherhood is the "most important role" of her life (something that anyone who has seen "No Strings Attached" or "Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium" will likely agree with) and then Presidential wannabe Mike Huckabee tried to make cheap political hay by kvetching about Portman supposedly "glamorizing" unwed pregnancy.

But while those teapot-based tempests just show the kind of crap celebrities have to deal with once they become successful, the allegations by Lane are a bit more serious, as they call into question the very reasons Portman won the Oscar in the first place. Lane, it should be noted, is listed simply as an extra in the "Black Swan" credits, rather than a double -- and if you ask Portman's baby daddy, "Black Swan" choreographer Benjamin Millepied, this is all just a case of sour grapes.

"There are articles now talking about her dance double [American Ballet Theatre dancer Sarah Lane] that are making it sound like [Lane] did a lot of the work," Millepied told the Los Angeles Times, "but really, she just did the footwork, and the fouettés, and one diagonal [phrase] in the studio. Honestly, 85-percent of that movie is Natalie."

Ballerinas having a throw-down catfight? Looks like, controversy or not, "Black Swan" got it right after all.

Universal

Given Natalie Portman's résumé, which includes playing everything from coquettish teenager to epileptic liar to damaged ballerina, it's really not all that shocking to find her move on to "archer in Medieval stoner comedy" in "Your Highness."

Regardless of its success, the 29-year-old actress is at a career peak right now, having just won Best Actress at this year's Academy Awards for her role as a troubled ballet dancer in Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan," and has no less than four major movies releasing (or released) this year.

But it's just the latest in a series of roles dating back more than 15 years that have made Portman "America's Girlfriend." To wit, a look back.

9. 'V for Vendetta' (2006)

James McTeigue's adaptation of Alan Moore's classic 1980s graphic novel polarized audiences and critics alike, though many lauded Portman's role as Evey Hammond, which saw the actress pull off both her hair and a convincing English accent. The comic book nerds called "Heresy!," but in the era of playing it safe, it was refreshing to see a film marry action-filled, commercial intentions with subversion against a thinly-veiled totalitarian regime. Spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down, guys.

8. 'Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis' (2009)

Zach Galifianakis' hysterical faux-public access celebrity talk show has yielded numerous brilliant moments, but Portman's appearance ranks as one of the best. Starting off with "What is your phone number?," the mock-interview only gets more awkward from there, culminating with the host asking about parts besides the head that were shaved for "V for Vendetta."

7. 'The Professional' (1994)

In retrospect, it's hard to believe Luc Besson's story of a girl whose family is murdered by mobsters and subsequently befriends her hitman neighbor was Portman's debut film role. As Mathilda, the actress transcends the phrase "child actor" and easily holds her own against Jean Reno, Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello. The making of an eventual Oscar winner starts here.

6. 'Your Highness' (2011)

After 2007's "Hotel Chevalier," Wes Anderson's 13-minute short film featuring nude scenes of Portman and co-star Jason Schwartzman, the actress swore off future nude scenes, distressed about the unwanted attention taking off your clothes brings. But in David Gordon Green's "Your Highness," Portman has backpedaled somewhat from that promise, with a disrobing that surely broke fanboy screen-grab records late last year with the release of the red-band trailer alone.

5. 'Beautiful Girls' (1996)

While Ted Demme's ensemble romantic comedy centers on a high school reunion in a New England town, it's the 13-year-old neighbor of one of the returning men that upstages them all. As the precocious, self-proclaimed "old soul" Marty, Portman exhibits a range and vulnerability usually reserved for actresses twice her age and somehow makes the creepy Lolita subplot with Timothy Hutton somewhat endearing.

4. 'Saturday Night Live' Rap (2006)

Playing off her "Ms. Perfect" image, the actress answers the question "What's a day in the life of Natalie Portman like?" with a two-minute, obscenity-laced gangsta rap extolling drinking, fighting and random sex. At least she has a sweet, inspiring message for all the children that look up to her.

3. 'Closer' (2004)

Portman first dispelled the Good Girl myth, however, with her role as Alice in Mike Nichols' "Closer," a stripper caught in a bizarre four-way relationship with her love (Jude Law), his lover (Julia Roberts) and her husband (Clive Owen.) It's complicated. Amid numerous stellar acting performances, we know which clip you want to see. Are you not entertained?

2. 'Garden State' (2004)

Before "The Shins will change your life" became shorthand for fey, indie posturing, Portman could be seen wooing Zach Braff in a doctor's office with the group's hit "New Slang." Portman's earnest portrayal of an epileptic and compulsive liar helped establish her a legitimate adult actress, and her hamster eulogy remains the most heartfelt hamster eulogy in film.

1. 'Black Swan' (2010)

After her Best Actress win at the Golden Globes, Portman is all but assured the same award at next month's Academy Awards. Why? It's not just that Portman spent more than five hours a day for a year preparing for her role as a tormented ballet dancer preparing for her lead in "Swan Lake." It's that the actress transcended the mere act of portrayal into complete embodiment and showed the lengths one will go to achieve perfection amid genius, delusion and sacrifice.

Fox Searchlight

The debate rages on as to whether the doomed Nina really did dance a "perfect" performance of "Swan Lake" in "Black Swan."

But the Independent Spirit Awards have certainly acknowledged that the movie itself came pretty close to perfection.

"Black Swan" swept the Spirit Awards with wins for Best Feature, Best Female Lead, Best Director and Best Cinematography. Darren Aronofsky's operatic tale of fear, loathing and madness at the New York City Ballet won in every category for which it was nominated.

While Natalie Portman may have beaten Jennifer Lawrence in the Best Female Lead category, "Winter's Bone" did take home awards for the performances of two of its supporting players, Dale Dickey and Jack Hawkes.

Meanwhile, the co-host of this year's Oscars, James Franco, won for his lead performance in "127 Hours." The newly PG-13-rated "The King's Speech" won Best Foreign Film and "Exit Through the Gift Shop" won Best Documentary, even though we'll probably never know whether it's really a "documentary" or a brilliantly staged... something.

The Independent Spirit Award Winners were announced on Saturday, Feb. 26. The complete list of this year's nominees are below, with the winners in bold.

BEST FEATURE:

"Black Swan"
"127 Hours"
"Greenberg"
"The Kids Are All Right"
"Winter's Bone"

BEST FEMALE LEAD:

Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
Greta Gerwig, "Greenberg"
Nicole Kidman, "Rabbit Hole"
Jennifer Lawrence, "Winter's Bone"
Michelle Williams, "Blue Valentine"

BEST MALE LEAD:

James Franco, "127 Hours"
Ronald Bronstein, "Go Get Some Rosemary"
Aaron Eckhart, "Rabbit Hole"
John C. Reilly, "Cyrus"
Ben Stiller, "Greenberg"

BEST SUPPORTING FEMALE:

Dale Dickey, "Winter's Bone"
Ashley Bell, "The Last Exorcism"
Allison Janney, "Life During Wartime"
Daphne Rubin-Vega, "Jack Goes Boating"
Naomi Watts, "Mother and Child"

BEST SUPPORTING MALE:

Jack Hawkes, "Winter's Bone"
Samuel L. Jackson, "Mother and Child"
Bill Murray, "Get Low"
John Ortiz, "Jack Goes Boating"
Mark Ruffalo, "The Kids Are All Right"

BEST DIRECTOR:

Darren Aronofsky, "Black Swan"
Danny Boyle, "127 Hours"
Lisa Cholodenko, "The Kids Are All Right"
Debra Granik, "Winter's Bone"
John Cameron Mitchell, "The Kids Are All Right"

BEST SCREENPLAY:

"The Kids Are All Right," Stuart Bluberg & Lisa Cholodenko
"Life During Wartime," Todd Solondz
"Please Give," Nicole Holofcener
"Rabbit Hole," David Lindsay-Abaire
"Winter's Bone," Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

BEST FIRST SCREENPLAY:

"Tiny Furniture," Lena Dunham
"Jack Goes Boating," Robert Glaudini
"Lovely, Still," Nicholas Fackler
"Monogamy," Dana Adam Shapiro, Evan M. Wiener
"Obselidia," Diane Bell

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:

"Black Swan," Matthew Libatique
"Greenberg," Harris Savides
"Never Let Me Go," Adam Kimmel
"Tiny Furniture," Jody Lee Lipes
"Winter's Bone," Michael McDonough

BEST FIRST FEATURE:

"Get Low"
"Everything Strange and New"
"The Last Exorcism"
"Night Catches Us"
"Tiny Furniture"

BEST FOREIGN FILM:

"The King's Speech"
"Of Gods and Men"
"Kisses"
"Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives"
"Mademoiselle Chambon"

BEST DOCUMENTARY:

"Exit Through The Gift Shop"
"Marwencol"
"Restrepo"
"Sweetgrass"
"Thunder Soul"

Sony / Weinstein Co.

So much for the Oscars being predictable.

A year after the David vs. Goliath slugfest between "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker," this year's theme appears to be Young Hollywood vs. Old Hollywood, with "The Social Network" (the movie that defines a new generation?) battling against "The King's Speech" (the more traditional Oscar crowd-pleaser for the 40-and-over set).

We see some similar contests in the acting races, with Natalie Portman ("Black Swan") against Annette Bening ("The Kids Are All Right") for Best Actress and heavy Best Actor favorite Colin Firth ("King's Speech") likely fending off James Franco ("127 Hours") and Jesse Eisenberg ("The Social Network").

And since you just never know, even in the tightest of races, we've broken down our predictions into three categories (where applicable): Smart Money (the undisputed favorite), Don't be Surprised by (a close second in tight races), and Our Pick (self-explanatory, and occasionally risky).

(Note that, despite the fact we call it "Smart Money," NextMovie does not condone gambling. But if you should happen to win an exorbitant amount of loot following our picks, we will not immediately turn away 10 percent.)

Best Picture

Sony

This race looked like it was over in December, as critics' group after critics' group declared David Fincher's ridiculously riveting Facebook expose "The Social Network" the greatest film of the year (if not the millennium). That all changed Jan. 22, the night "King's Speech" scored an "upset" win at the Producer's Guild Awards. Convincing wins at the SAGs, DGAs and BAFTAs followed, not to mention a leading 12 Oscar nominations.

Movie buffs were not shocked by the sudden ascent of "King's Speech" – it's the prototypical "Oscar film" with historical intrigue, serious thesps, fancy costumes, and of course, a debilitating disorder. It's got all the momentum right now, but we're still holding out hope that the superior film ("Social Network"), not the more Oscar-friendly film ("King's Speech"), ultimately prevails.

Smart Money: "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: "The Social Network"

Best Director

The Social Network

There are two ways the Oscars play out in the top categories this year. Either it will be a clean sweep by "Social Network" or "King's Speech," or voters will honor both films by splitting the categories. It's likely to be the latter.

Though "King's Speech" may look unbeatable at the moment, its director Tom Hooper isn't nearly as well-established or venerated as "Social Network" helmer David Fincher. The second-time nominee and director of "Se7en," "Fight Club" and "Zodiac" has to get the leg up here.

Smart Money: David Fincher, "The Social Network"
Don't Be Surprised by: Tom Hooper, "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: David Fincher, "The Social Network"

Best Actor

Weinstein Co.

Behold the easiest major category to predict! Colin Firth – exceptional as the stammering King George VI in "King's Speech" -- was the early favorite to win Best Actor last year for his ill-fated gay professor "A Single Man" until Jeff Bridges boozed and crooned his way into the race at the last second and became the odds-on favorite (and eventual winner) for "Crazy Heart." This year there's no one standing in his way, not even The Dude, who's nominated again for "True Grit" (if anyone's able to pull off a monumental upset it would be "127 Hours" star and Oscars co-host James Franco). We look forward to The Firth's Speech.

Smart Money: Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: Colin Firth, "The King's Speech"

Best Actress

Fox Searchlight

This race is probably closer than it appears, given Natalie Portman has cleaned up so far this awards season for her tormented ballerina in "Black Swan." Her closest competitor remains Annette Bening, whose gay matriarch marked a career best in "Kids Are All Right," but whose most prominent prize remains Best Actress – Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes (where she beat out Angelina Jolie for "The Tourist"). Old Hollywood may back the veteran Bening here, but Portman, who also delivers a career-best turn, has the back story (she practiced HARD, folks!) and a more widely celebrated film.

Smart Money: Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"
Don’t be Surprised by: Annette Bening, "The Kids Are All Right"
Our Pick: Natalie Portman, "Black Swan"

Best Supporting Actor

Paramount

Here's another race that has a clear favorite, but may not be as open-and-shut as the experts will have you believe. Christian Bale has swept all the awards so far, and he has David Fincher-like respect in Tinseltown (seems everyone's over his "Terminator" blow-up). Plus, he's got two vital Oscar qualifiers down for this stunning role in "The Fighter": the physical transformation and the drug addiction (almost as key as a disability). He's also Batman. But don't count out previous winner Geoffrey Rush, also magnificent and who some will argue is the emotional core of "The King's Speech," which could indeed sweep.

Smart Money: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"
Don't be Surprised by: Geoffrey Rush, "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: Christian Bale, "The Fighter"

Best Supporting Actress

Paramount

Ah yes, Best Supporting Actress, Oscar's wild card where anything can happen, like Marisa Tomei or Mira Sorvino winning. Melissa Leo has won the majority of Supporting Actress accolades so far for her gritty mother you don't want to f**k with in "The Fighter," but word is her speeches and self-financed promotional ads in the trades have turned people off (breaking news: politics matter). Wunderkind Hailee Steinfeld is emerging as a trendy pick for "True Grit," argument being here is where the Academy honors the Coen brothers' surprising box office smash. And Helena Bonham Carter stands a chance if there is a "Speech"-sweep, but we're going to take a gamble on Jacki Weaver, who's gleaming mama grizzly in "Animal Kingdom" stands a chance for a mega-upset if enough people saw the film. Also nominated (and thus a possible winner): Amy Adams for "The Fighter."

Smart Money: Melissa Leo, "The Fighter"
Don't be Surprised by: Hailee Steinfeld, "True Grit"
Our Pick: Jacki Weaver, "Animal Kingdom"

Best Animated Feature

Yes, Best Actor may be the easiest MAJOR category to predict, but Best Animated Feature is the easiest overall race to call – and we can give you 415 million reasons why "Toy Story 3" will be crowned victor. Don't dare choose anything else; "How to Train Your Dragon" was indeed exuberant fun, but like most Pixar entries, "Toy Story 3" (also a Best Picture nominee) transcends the "family film" label.

Smart Money: "Toy Story 3"
Our Pick: "Toy Story 3"

Best Original Screenplay

Another easy call to make, again given "King's Speech" standing as film to beat. Screenwriter David Seidler surely deserves cheers for transforming what could've so easily been a formulaic historical drama into an emotionally moving and funny triumph. Plus there's all those extra syllables required with stammering (kidding!). If anything stands a remote chance of upsetting "Speech," it's Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg's witty script for "Kids Are All Right," as a nod to that extremely well-liked dramedy.

Smart Money: "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: "The King's Speech"

Best Adapted Screenplay

"West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin is as close to a rock star in Hollywood as there is among writers; the last time we saw one get so much attention during awards season it was Diablo Cody, who walked away with a trophy for "Juno." Despite hullabaloo over what's accurate and what's not in "The Social Network," Sorkin's rapid-fire dialogue and vigorous pacing was marveled at by all. He best have his thank you speech already written.

Smart Money: "The Social Network"
Our Pick: "The Social Network"

Best Documentary

Smart Money: "Inside Job"
Our Pick: "Exit Through the Gift Shop"

Best Foreign Language Film

Smart Money: "In a Better World"
Don't be Surprised by: "Incendies"
Our Pick: "In a Better World"

Best Film Editing

Smart Money: "The Social Network"
Don't be Surprised by: "127 Hours"
Our Pick: "The Social Network"

Best Cinematography

Smart Money: "True Grit"
Don't be Surprised by: "Black Swan"
Our Pick: "True Grit"

Best Sound Mixing

Smart Money: "Inception"
Our Pick: "Inception"

Best Visual Effects

Smart Money: "Inception"
Our Pick: "Inception"

Best Original Score

Smart Money: "The Social Network"
Don't be Surprised by: "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: "Inception"

Best Song

Smart Money: "We Belong Together," "Toy Story 3"
Don't be Surprised by: "If I Rise," "127 Hours"
Our Pick: "We Belong Together," "Toy Story 3"

Best Makeup

Smart Money: "The Wolfman"
Our Pick: "The Wolfman"

Best Art Direction

Smart Money: "The King's Speech"
Don't be Surprised by: "Inception"
Our Pick: "Alice in Wonderland"

Best Costume Design

Smart Money: "The King's Speech"
Our Pick: "Alice in Wonderland"

Best Documentary Short

Smart Money: "Strangers No More"
Don't be Surprised by: "Poster Girl"

Best Live Action Short Film

Smart Money: "Wish 143"
Don't Be Surprised by: "God of Love"

Best Animated Short Film

Smart Money: "The Gruffalo"
Don't be Surprised by: "Day & Night"

Get more Oscar predictions from top experts, including NextMovie editor Kevin Polowy, on Gold Derby.

Disney

The Oscars might be the night of the stars, but the Costume Designers Guild Awards is the night for the folks who make those stars look so damn good.

The 13th annual event, hosted by the ever-polished Kristin Davis at the iconic Beverly Hilton, honored both established designers and some newer talent, The Hollywood Reporter recounts.

Taking home her sixth award, Colleen Atwood won for her fanciful "Alice in Wonderland" costumes in the fantasy film category.

Jenny Beavan snapped up her first CDG award, winning the period film category for her royal duds in 1930s-set "The Kings Speech."

Another first-time winner was Amy Westcott, who won the contemporary film race for her show-stopping pieces in "Black Swan."

In the TV category, big winners were Lou Eyrich for "Glee," John Dunn for "Boardwalk Empire" and Cindy Evans for "Temple Grandin."

On Sunday, "The King's Speech" and "Alice in Wonderland" will battle it out against "I Am Love," "The Tempest" and "True Grit" to take home the ultimate accessory—that little bald man.

Complete CDGA winners below:

Excellence in Contemporary Film: Amy Westcott, "Black Swan"

Excellence in Period Film: Jenny Beavan, "The King's Speech"

Excellence in Fantasy Film: Colleen Atwood, "Alice in Wonderland"

Outstanding Contemporary Television Series: Loy Eyrich, "Glee"

Outstanding Period/ Fantasy Television Series: John Dunn, "Boardwalk Empire"

Outstanding Made-For-TV Movie or Mini Series: Cindy Evans, "Temple Grandin"

Excellence in Commercial Costume Design: Aude Bronson-Howard, Chanel's "Bleu de Chanel"

Getty Images

• What's next for Justin Bieber after he revolutionized modern music and film with his teen charms and irresistible sweetness? Easy, Bieberizing the world of wax! Maddame Tussauds announced that the "Never Say Never" star will soon be immortalized in waxy goodness in New York, London and Amsterdam.

• The Dude abides and also presents. Indiewire has the updated list of Academy Award presenters, including Oscar veterans Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, as well as new Hollywood hitmakers like the zany Russell Brand and gritty Jeff Bridges.

• Entertainment Tonight catches up with Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon for all the juicy deets on their forbidden on-screen "Water for Elephants" romance. 

• After you take our NextMovie Oscar poll for the chance to win a full year in free movies, click on over to People's Red Carpet Trivia Live to test your wits on the most elegantly dressed celebs at this year's Academy Awards for the chance to rack up $10K.

 • "Hello, movie theaters? This is Chloe from CTU, please be aware that Jack Bauer is BACK!" ComingSoon.net reports that the hit Fox action series "24" will be back fighting nasty terrorists at movie theaters across the country eventually.

 • In a year that proves to be one of the Academy's best,
Limerick Review takes our poetry and Oscar best pic skills to the test,
The epic "Social Network," "King's Speech" and "Black Swan,"
None of these films dare generate a poetic yawn,
As these movie limericks grant heartily laughs from our chests!

• Get your hate mail ready as Complex ranks the 50 worst actors in Hollywood history. Our sincerest sympathies to those devout Bill and Ted fans, cause we love Keanu too.

• And the Oscar goest to...Gollum? Cracked gives us six killer new category ideas for the Academy Awards, just to make them that much more excitingly awesome.

• IFC counts down the 50 best film opening title sequences of all time From those tantalizing Ruby Red "Rocky Horror Picture Show" lips to the fab four sprinting down London streets at the height of Beatlemania in "A Hard Day's Night," this list will feed all your opening credit fix.

• FilmDrunk delights our viral video tastes with this video montage of  "Kill Bill" clips next to the cinema classics that inspired them.  Two parts Spaghetti Western+one part Samurai-epic (with a sprinkle of Tarantino Touch) and voila, Kill Bill a-la-carte!

Fox Searchlight

Bad manners are pushing theater-goers to their limits - and occasionally, off the edge.

The Wrap reports that a 27-year-old man in Latvia was arrested by police for shooting an audience member during a screening of "Black Swan." Reason? The man was eating his popcorn too loudly during the movie.

According to the report, the scuffle erupted after the end credits of Darren Aronofsky's Oscar-nominated picture. The 27-year-old was so annoyed and offended by the other man's popcorn mastication, he took a gun and shot him. The assault took place at a theater in Latvia.

Not much else is known about the incident, nor has Fox Searchlight, the company behind "Black Swan," commented.

With the line between theatrical experiences and home entertainment setups becoming blurred, more and more people are finding excuses to either stay home or take their personal viewing habits to the theater. Rarely can you see a movie on the big screen without someone hopping on their phone, sending a text message, providing their own color commentary or hooking up with the person next to them. Or eating popcorn, apparently.

It's easy to derive a connection between the violent reaction and the psychological duress of "Black Swan," but the outburst appears to have little to do with the film's content. If it were "Black Swan" or "Yogi Bear," the man in question simply had it up to there with the lack of etiquette. Shooting the guy may not have been the greatest idea, but he wouldn't be the first person to hit their boiling point in a theater - and he probably won't be the last.

Someone get Miss Manners on the phone!

Mindy Tucker

When looking at the upcoming Academy Awards race, there are dozens if not hundreds of experts or pundits you could turn to for insight.

Seth Herzog is not one of those people.

All the more reason why you should watch the funnyman who's appeared on/in "30 Rock" and "Role Models" (fun fact: he's also Jimmy Fallon's warmup comic) break down the Best Picture race in a series we call -- wait for it -- Seth Herzog Breaks It Down.

Like you, he doesn't know the full cast listing to every film nominated. So he's more relatable. And a helluva lot funnier.

To all our fellow New Yorkers out there, make sure you check out SWEET, the longest continuously running downtown comedy show in NYC, hosted and produced by Mr. Herzog himself. It's at ELLA every Tuesday at 9 p.m. Check out Facebook for the full details.

Funny Or Die

Ballerinas are unquestionably sexy, but dating Natalie Portman's character in "Black Swan" would be terrifying. Even more terrifying is the thought of all women molting into evil black swans with an eye for vengeance.

That's the jumping off point for Funny Or Die's new exclusive video, "Black Swan 2: Epidemic."

Men, imagine living in a world where women turned into black swans whenever you are less-than-perfect. It would definitely make you behave better. It might also dissuade you from ever dating again.

The parody trailer follows  multiple couples as the guys experience an entirely new level of fear from a woman scorned. And while a full-length version might not be as critically acclaimed or win as many awards as the original, we'd still pay $3.99 to rent it.

Getty Images

Is the director of "Black Swan" setting his sights on The Dark Knight?

Some sort of trip to Gotham City looks like it might be in Darren Aronofsky's future.

During a recent interview with Clothes On Film, the director was asked if he might consider pursuing a comic book adaptation of a Batman story he'd worked on. Surprisingly, it looks like that's exactly what's happening.

"Well, we're actually doing one," Aronofsky says. "It hasn't really been announced, I don’t know if I should give you the scoop! But we're getting there. We're doing a comic book of a script that's really hard to make and we're going to do a comic version first and see what happens…"

Could Darren Aronofsky be leading the charge to the next incarnation of the Caped Crusader after Christopher Nolan completes his trilogy? Holy Reboot, Batman!

Aronofsky is no stranger to the comic book medium, having created a tie-in book for his first feature film, "Pi," as well as adapting his most personal project to date, "The Fountain," as a comic book. He's also no stranger to the world of Batman, as he was once linked to a possible film adaptation of Frank Miller's "Batman: Year One" several years before Nolan gave us "Batman Begins."

And, of course, he's preparing to reunite with his "Fountain" star, Hugh Jackman, for a little movie you may have heard of called "The Wolverine."

Anyway, we love anything Darren Aronofsky does, whether it's a movie or a comic book or something on an Etch-a-Sketch, so whatever's next, bring it!

Weinstein Co.

Always count on the Brits to spice up the awards race.

When the British Academy of Film and Television Arts Awards were announced this morning, front-runner and awards-monger "The Social Network" made its usual splash, but not without stiff competition. "The King's Speech" took a whopping 14 nominations, while "Black Swan" grabbed 12, "Inception" nine, "127 Hours" eight and "The Social Network" a mere six.

Competing for the Best Film award are "Black Swan," "Inception," "The King's Speech," "The Social Network" and the Coen Bros' "True Grit," which failed to garner attention of the Golden Globes. BAFTA also hands out an award for Outstanding British Film, which will choose from "127 Hours," the Mike Leigh drama "Another Year," the terrorist black comedy "Four Lions," "The King's Speech" and the protest drama, "Made in Dagenham."

The BAFTAs can often be wildly different from its American counterpart (they nominated Daniel Craig for "Casino Royale" in 2007), but this year is mostly a carbon copy of what we've seen, with a few notable exceptions.

Popping up are Danny Boyle ("127 Hours") for Director, Javier Bardem in "Biutiful" for Leading Actor, Noomi Rapace in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for Leading Actress, Pete Postlethwaite in "The Town" for Supporting Actor and a slew of Supporting Actress surprises, including Barbara Hershey in "Black Swan," Lesley Manville in "Another Year" and Miranda Richardson in "Made in Dagenham."

Along with the run-of-the-mill awards, the BAFTAs also award rising stars, five up-and-comers who we just happen to love. Competing for the Orange Wednesdays Rising Award are  Gemma Arterton, Andrew Garfield, Tom Hardy, Aaron Johnson and Emma Stone.

The BAFTA Awards will be handed out Sunday, Feb. 13. You can view the full list of nominees at BAFTA.org.

Getty Images

Enjoy Ricky Gervais' Golden Globes performance now as it'll probably be the last time you see him host the award show.

The comedian eviscerated everyone from Tom Cruise to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) -- aka the people that vote on and run the Golden Globes -- in a devastating opening that most likely earned him a spot on the "Do Not Invite" list next year.

Hollywood's loss is our gain, though, as Gervais imbued the superficial proceedings with rare jolts of earnestness and sincerity, tearing away the veneer of fake smiles and polite applause in favor of numerous "He's going to get beat up backstage" moments.

But it wasn't all about Gervais. While the only real surprise came with Paul Giamatti's upset win over Johnny Depp for Best Actor - Comedy or Musical, there were still myriad best and worst moments, including...

BEST Ricky Gervais Amputates the Hand that Feeds Him

Charlie Sheen. Angelina Jolie. Johnny Depp. Cher. Scientologist actors. The HFPA themselves. No one was spared in Gervais' scathing, honest, hilariously awkward opening monologue. You can watch the whole thing here, but we're particular to Gervais calling out the HFPA on the rumors that "The Tourist" was nominated for Best Picture solely to lure Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. "That is not the only reason," said Gervais. "They also accepted bribes." Ouch.

WORST Christian Bale's Mysteriously Censored Words to Robert De Niro

After thanking his requisite co-stars and other nominees for Best Supporting Actor – Drama, "The Fighter"'s Christian Bale mentioned Robert De Niro's toward the end of his speech before NBC silenced Bale's words to the actor. We can only speculate why Bale was gagged and what was said but we're guessing it was "Raging Bull"-related. Either that, or Bale made an obvious, if not entirely appropriate, "Little Fockers" joke.

BEST HFPA President Philip Berk Sasses Back at Gervais

Like middle schoolers at a sleepover dutifully thanking the parent for letting them crash, every awards show features a few unnecessary moments with the head of the respective awards committee. Eva Longoria, doubtless wondering who she pissed off to get this job, introduced HFPA President Philip Berk, who replied to Gervais' intro ("I had to help the HFPA president off the toilet and pop his teeth back in!") with "Ricky, the next time you want someone to qualify your movies, go to another guy." The tongue was presumably in cheek, right?

WORST Gervais' Vicious Robert Downey Jr. Intro and the Actor's Response

This is why we watch these shows. In introducing Robert Downey Jr., Gervais read off some of the actor's less notable movies including "Up the Academy," "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," and "Two Girls and a Guy" before asking, "Are these porn titles?" It only got more awkward. "Though many of you probably know him best from the Betty Ford clinic and the L.A. County Jail." Downey Jr.'s response? "Aside from the fact that it's been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I'd say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far, no?" Yeah. He wasn't happy. (By "Worst," we of course mean "awkward." We wholeheartedly endorse more of these moments.)

BEST Natalie Portman's Best Actress Speech

Portman gave one of the most heartfelt speeches of the night, thanking her fiancé, father of her child and "Black Swan" co-star and choreographer Benjamin Millepied for "totally wanting to sleep with me." After thanking co-star Mila "Sweet Lips" Kunis (her words, not ours) and her parents, who were in the audience supporting their daughter, Portman recalled meeting with "Swan" director Darren Aronofsky ten years ago to begin talks on the film and thanked the director for "giving me such a beautiful gift with this role." A collective "Awww" was heard across the country.
WORST Ricky Gervais' Mysterious Disapperance Mid-Show

At around 9:30, 90 minutes into the broadcast, the house announcer began introducing the talent, a role presumably delegated to Gervais. 30 minutes later, there was still no sign of the host, as Twitter began to float various conspiracy theories on the comedian's absence. By 10:15, it became the elephant in the room. Did the Church of Scientology throw him in the back of a van and try to up his OT levels? Did Robert Downey Jr. imprint his ring on the comedian's forehead? Did the HFPA give him the Hollywood version of a "time out" and put him in the corner of the Beverly Hilton? Gervais would return at 10:30, not addressing the mysterious absence but a bit tamer in his jokes (before ending the broadcast with, "I'd like to thank God for making me an atheist.")

BEST Michael Douglas Gets Standing Ovation

If there's one thing Hollywood loves more than redemption stories and congratulating itself, it's tales of survival. Michael Douglas's recent bout with cancer, a disease the actor said has been cured, prompted the audience to give him a standing ovation before the actor presented the award for Best Picture – Drama. "There's got to be an easier way to get a standing ovation," joked the actor.

WORST Matt Damon's intro to De Niro's Award

The "True Grit" star, who appeared in De Niro's 2006 film "The Good Shepherd," gave an overlong, awkward and painfully unfunny intro to set up De Niro's award. We'll spare you the details, but it centered around Damon's faux-unfamiliarity with De Niro's work and realizing that he was in a lot of good movies. Ha?

BEST Robert De Niro Accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award

In accepting the Cecil B. DeMille Award, an award bestowed upon one person annually who has made "outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment," Robert De Niro showed off both his classy and self-deprecating sides. The film legend thanked the HFPA before stating, "I was very, very moved when you made the announcement two months ago, well before you had the chance to review 'Little Fockers.' I saw those." He would go on to make fun of some of his much-maligned films including "Frankenstein" and "Jacknife," saying, "I'll be selling them in the lobby right after I pose for more pictures with the HFPA." Never one to hold his tongue, De Niro let loose an awkward joke about the members of the HFPA getting deported along with "most of the waiters." Is this thing on? But overall, it stood as one of the more interesting speeches of the night.

WORST Andrew Garfield's Introductory Speech to "The Social Network"

We'll give Andrew Garfield some leeway given that it's live television but we still chuckled at the actor's numerous attempts to get out the phrase "inspiringly written" when discussing Aaron Sorkin's script for "The Social Network." At first, we thought Garfield might be making fun of "The King's Speech," in which Colin Firth plays the stammering King George VI, until realizing that the flub was genuine.

BEST "The Social Network" wins Best Picture

Okay, David Fincher's Facebook movie was the odds-on favorite to win so this wasn't exactly a shock, but it was still cool to see the familial cast and crew prepare for their inevitable Oscar speech. Reclusive actors Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield – two men known for their aversion to events, awards and press – had to be genially forced on stage to accept the award with screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, director David Fincher and the others.

Sony

This is it -- the last hurrah for a year's worth of movies, a crown for the reigning champ -- and the last installment in our race-by-race breakdown of tonight's Critics' Choice Movie Awards (see also Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor/Actress).

Who have the critics deemed worthy to contend for the top prize of 2010? Find out which movies made their list and who we think stands the best chance of coming out on top.

Fox Searchlight

Danny Boyle's follow-up to his CCMA and Oscar-winning "Slumdog Millionaire," "127 Hours" is a kinetic spin on the "Cast Away" one-man show. A mishap while hiking across a Utah park leaves Aron Ralston (James Franco) trapped between a canyon crevice, his arm lodged underneath a boulder. The audience is whipped along as Ralston struggles to break free while his health deteriorates and his life literally flashes before eyes.

"127 Hours" is a visceral, occasionally grizzly film (by now you've heard of numerous audience members fainting from the graphic ending), but Franco delivers a necessary dose of humor and levity. An all-around great flick that, when it comes down to the vote, may be too inspirational for its own good.

'Black Swan'

Fox Searchlight

Not too often does a legitimate horror flick work its way to the top of critics' top ten lists, but then again, not often are they produced by auteur directors and serious actors.

Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" warps the conventions of horror films by mirroring the fairy tale story of "Swan Lake" in a world as gritty and real as his previous effort, "The Wrestler." Natalie Portman's physically strenuous embodiment of driven ballerina Nina drives the frightening events, supported by top-notch work from Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel and Barbara Hershey. Add Clint Mansell's twisted score and you have a movie that's almost perfect. But really, who wants to be a perfectionist?

'The Fighter'

Paramount

David O. Russell's skewed humor (seen in "I Heart Huckabees" and "Three Kings")  may not seem fit for a typical boxing movie like "The Fighter." Except...it's anything but.

Uplifting, poignant and hilarious, Russell's "Fighter" is more family dramedy than sports film, with little of the action taking place in the ring. It's about the people -  and he found a whirlwind cast to pull it off. Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and the rest of the cast pull out all the stops (and their Massachusetts accents) to make "Fighter" one of the best contenders of the year.

'Inception'

Warner Bros.

In 2008, Christopher Nolan redefined the summer blockbuster with his Batman sequel "The Dark Knight." In 2010 he did it again, this time, without the support of source material. It all came from his mind, his dreams.

Whether the internal logic of "Inception" is sound or not isn't the point. Nolan set out to make a twisty, turny heist picture and he did - a theatrical ride, with star Leonardo Dicaprio as the pilot. In a summer muddled with CG effects, quickie sequels and plotless yarns, "Inception" used classic methods to turn fun characters, snappy dialogue and practical effects into an unforgettable action movie.

'The King's Speech'

Weinstein Co.

How does a movie gain the label "award bait?" When it's gracefully directed, filled with wonderful performances and is beloved by enough people that it becomes the talk of the town. Not a bad thing.

The British-isms of "The King's Speech" might remind people of a Merchant-Ivory film, but it's energized by Director Tom Hooper's off-kilter visual flair and the three lead performances. It's more like a boxing movie than "The Fighter," with Geoffrey Rush training Colin Firth's stuttering King George for the final fight. Erm, speech. A crowd-pleaser for a reason.

'The Social Network'

Sony

You know it's a good sign when the trailer for a movie deserves its own award. "The Social Network" fused the meticulous eye of David Fincher with the faster-than-light dialogue of Aaron Sorkin to hit a chord of human nature that few thought a "Facebook Movie" was capable of accomplishing.

The battle between Jesse Eisenberg's Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield's Eduardo over the truths, half-truths and lies complicating Facebook's history is on par with a great courtroom drama. The difference is, they're just doing it in a dorm room. The movie's already sweeping awards and is one of the top contenders for the CCA.

'The Town'

Warner Bros.

Ben Affleck's second feature, "The Town," continues his expedition into the underbelly of Boston - specifically, a neighborhood known as Charlestown, the bank-robbing capital of the world.

Affleck adapted "The Town" from a Chuck Hogan novel before stepping up his visual game and going...to...town. While the film isn't as complex or gripping as his debut "Gone Baby Gone," it is fun, with Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm, Jeremy Renner and Affleck himself turning in enjoyable performances. Affleck attempts to upstage the best of the best bank heists committed to film and he comes pretty darn close.

'Toy Story 3'

Disney

Before Pixar was officially acquired by Disney, "Toy Story 3" was on the fast track to theaters with a completely different story and set of characters (Buzz recalled to Japan? - oof). Then, when the deal was sealed, the originators stepped in and gave it an overhaul. Phew.

"Toy Story 3" is the perfect coda for people who grew up with the franchise. Unlike most threequels, it respects its characters and emotional throughlines, giving Woody, Buzz and the rest of the gang a genuine farewell, while making sure it's still an adventure getting there. One of the best action movies of the summer and an affecting ending - the critics loved it, but can it transcend the animation category?

'True Grit'

Paramount

The Coen Bros. return with their least Coen-like movie in years - and it's great.

"True Grit" isn't dripping in bleakness like "No Country for Old Men" or aiming for "Serious Man's" level of nuts. Instead, it's a simply shot ode to the old school Western, featuring the always-watchable Jeff Bridges, a hilarious turn from Matt Damon and a breakout performance by Hailee Steinfeld as the young Mattie Ross. "True Grit" doesn't dig deep, but doesn't aim to. It's a wild west adventure disguised as a prestige picture. Keep an eye on it (even if you only have one).

'Winter's Bone'

Roadside

Following a 17-year-old girl's mission to save her family across the grim landscape of the Ozarks, "Winter's Bone" pulls no punches in its depiction of the impoverished world of the American Midwest.

The film debuted and took home the Grand Jury Prize at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and has been snowballing with buzz ever since. Most of the praise is for young lead actress Jennifer Lawrence, who carries the weight of the movie on her shoulders. It's depressing as all hell - but that punch in the gut is what helps bring it to the top tier of 2011.

Our Prediction: "The Social Network." The movie's collecting more trophies than your Farmville account. Unless an underdog starts buzzing from the bottom of the barrel, it's a clear winner - and it deserves all the recognition.

Paramount

Haven't been reading Variety every day? Then you may not have noticed, but Oscar campaign season is in full swing.

That means Hollywood insiders are being flooded with advertisements touting the achievements of this year's awards contenders, for their consideration while casting votes on Academy Award ballots.

Occasionally, the campaigns will originate from surprising or inspired places. Case in point: Last week, Paramount unveiled one for the blockbuster hit "Jackass 3D," making its case for Best Picture, Art Direction, Cinematography and more.

In the spirit of the "Jackass 3D" campaign (and also in respect for its balls), we dug up these six other surprising 2011 For Your Consideration Oscar posters you may have missed.

(Note to members of the Academy, specifically those sense of humor-challenged: These are not actual studio-released campaign posters. )

Artwork by Old Red Jalopy.

Sony

Fun fact: In its 75 years of existence, the Director's Guild of America awards have only failed to pick the winner of the Best Director Academy Award six times. So when the nominee announcements hit, all ears are listening.

The DGA 2010 nominations arrived today, but without too many surprises. As you may expect, they're all worthy candidates to take home both the DGA's highest honor and Oscar gold come February. Up for the prize are...

Darren Aronofsky for "Black Swan," David Fincher for "The Social Network," Tom Hooper for "The King's Speech," Christopher Nolan for "Inception" and David O. Russell for "The Fighter."

Notable exceptions include Danny Boyle for "127 Hours," Lisa Cholodenko for "The Kids Are All Right" and the Coen brothers for "True Grit," but as the buzz of award season ebbs and flows, the nominated five were already looking like front-runners.

Prediction? Fincher, who's collecting Best Picture awards for his Facebook tragicomedy left and right. But don't count the others out just yet - until a final announcement, it's anyone's game.

Besides, Nolan's probably figured out a way to plant the idea of him winning in all of the voter's dreams. It's called Inception.

Warner Bros.

The Writers Guild of America has announced the nominees for outstanding achievemane in writing for the screen in 2010, and the list makes us realize that, yeah, there were a lof of great scripts out there last year. 

We're happy to see the trippy, nasty "Black Swan" getting so much critical attention, and now the WGA is offering their own praise with a nomination for the bizarro script. Are Hollywood award-givers (and union organizations, at that) actually starting to embrace the darkness a bit more?

It seems like it, as the Coen Brothers' rough and tumble screenplay for "True Grit" also got a nomination, as did the gritty, "blue-collar" scripts for last year's two excellent Massachusetts melodramas, "The Fighter" and "The Town." 

A nomination for Aaron Sorkin's terrific, rat-a-tat screenplay for "The Social Network" was a no-brainer, of course, as was a nom for one of the best indie dramas to come out in a while, "The Kids Are All Right." 

"Inception" got one, too, because it's smarter than us.   

All of the nominees are listed below. The winners will be honored at the 2011 Writers Guild Awards on Saturday, Feb. 5. 

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

"Black Swan" -- Screenplay by Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz & John McLaughlin; Story by Andres Heinz
"Inception" -- Written by Christopher Nolan
"The Kids Are All Right" -- Written by Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
"Please Give" -- Written by Nicole Holofcener
"The Fighter" -- Screenplay by Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson; Story by Keith Dorrington, Paul Tamasy & Eric Johnson

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

"127 Hours" -- Screenplay by Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy; Based on the book "Between a Rock and a Hard Place" by Aron Ralston
"I Love You Phillip Morris," Written by John Requa & Glenn Ficarra; Based on the book by Steven McVicker
"The Social Network," Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin; Based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich
"The Town," Screenplay by Peter Craig, Ben Affleck & Aaron Stockard; Based on the novel "Prince of Thieves" by Chuck Hogan
"True Grit," Screenplay by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen; Based on the novel by Charles Portis

DOCUMENTARY SCREENPLAY

"Enemies of the People," Written, Directed, Filmed and Produced by Rob Lemkin & Thet Sambath
"Freedom Riders," Written, Produced and Directed by Stanley Nelson
"Gasland," Written and Directed by Josh Fox
"Inside Job," Produced, Written and Directed by Charles Ferguson; Co-written by Chad Beck, Adam Bolt
"The Two Escobars," Written by Michael Zimbalist, Jeff Zimbalist
"Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)?," Written and Directed by John Scheinfeld

Warner Bros.

The Producers Guild of America announced their nominees for the 22nd annual PGA Awards today and to nobody's surprise all the usual suspects were nominated, including "The Social Network," "The King's Speech," "The Town" and "Black Swan."

In addition, the PGA revelaed their nominees in the unusually competitive animation category, with "Despicable Me," "How to Train Your Dragon" and "Toy Story 3" earning the nods.

Like the Oscars, the Producers Guild has recently expanded the number of nominees for their top category, Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures, naming 10 contenders instead of the traditional five.

Despite the enlarged field, however, there were few surprises. Nine of the 10 nominees were previously nominated for Best Picture by the Critics' Choice Awards, with the only difference being the nomination of "The Kids Are All Right" by the PGA in place of "Winter's Bone."

The similarity between the PGA nominees and the Critics' Choice nominees reveals an unusual consensus of opinion between members of the professional community in Hollywood, who vote for the Producers Guild Awards, and the representatives of the media who make up the Broadcast Film Critics Association. Needless to say, critics and insiders don't always agree on things; the fact that their lists are almost identical suggests that there may be very few surprises when the Oscar nominations are announced later this month.

Here is a complete list of the nominees in the film categories for the 22nd Annual Producers Guild Awards; the nominees for the Documentary category were previously announced:

The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures

"127 Hours" -- Producers Danny Boyle, Christian Colson
"Black Swan" -- Producers Scott Franklin, Mike Medavoy, Brian Oliver
"Inception" -- Producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas
"The Fighter" -- Producers David Holberman, Todd Lieberman, Mark Wahlberg
"The Kids Are All Right" -- Producers Gary Gilbert, Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, Celine Rattray
"The King's Speech" -- Producers Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Gareth Unwin
"The Social Network" -- Proudcers Dana Brunetti, Cean Chaffin, Michael De Luca, Scott Rudin
"The Town" -- Producers Basil Iwanyk, Graham King
"Toy Story 3" -- Producer Darla K. Anderson
"True Grit" -- Producers Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Scott Rudin

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures

"Despicable Me" -- Producers John Cohen, Janet Healy, Christopher Meledandri
"How to Train Your Dragon" -- Producer Bonnie Arnold
"Toy Story 3" -- Producer Darla K. Anderson

The Award for Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures

"Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer" -- Producers to be announced
"Earth Made of Glass" -- Producers Reid Carolin, Deborah Scranton
"Inside Job" -- Producers Charles Ferguson, Audrey Marrs
"Smash his Camera" -- Producers Linda Saffire, Adam Schlesinger
"The Tillman Story' -- Producer John Battsek
"Waiting for 'Superman'" -- Producer Lesley Chilcott

You can view the official list, including television categories, here.

Weinstein Co.

Full disclosure: I didn't see every movie that came out this year -- or even every movie that sent critics grabbing for their Blackberries during closing credits to tweet the words "Oscar contender," "performance of the year," and/or "ZOMG ur gonna freak."

I was sick the day of the "127 Hours" advance screening, and if I'm being totally honest, a little sick every time I thought of seeing it -- and James Franco's arm... and James Franco's NO ARM -- when it finally landed in theaters.

What can I say? I love critically acclaimed films, but I'm also a giant baby.

I've come to terms with the gaps in my knowledge. Whittling down this list was already too painful; I had to take a couple aspirin after cutting "Easy A," "I Am Love," and "Let Me In." So here it is, my personal top 10 of 2010, the big winners in a year filled with truly spectacular cinema.

10. 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World'

I love the work of comic artist/writer Bryan Lee O'Malley, but it's hard to like the main character of his series. The original Scott Pilgrim is...  a real dick. Casting Michael Cera as the titular anti-hero in the adaptation was a master stroke -- he's difficult to hate (though not impossible, I know; I read the internet) and his trademark toe-scuffing makes Scott seem adorkably clueless... and less loathesomely narcissistic. "Scott Pilgrim" takes a (graphic) novel approach to story-telling, blending comic-style art, text and traditional movie action seamlessly for a film that feels truly unique. It's not the best thing I've seen this year, but with a terrific script, a standout performance by Ellen Wong as Scott's groupie ex-girlfriend Knives Chau and the finest soundtrack I've heard in ages, it wins #1 for Most Likely to Live in My Blu-ray Player.

9. 'Kick-Ass'

Deep down, I also long to throw on a pair of form-fitting jammies and fight crime, so it's no shock that I'm charmed by the amateur superhero protagonist of "Kick-Ass." What does surprise me (or did, during the first of many viewings) is how genuinely moving I find parts of this costumed comic book adaptation. Yes, Hit Girl's (Chloe Moretz) foul mouth is outrageous -- and the ninja stylings of an 11-year-old with pigtails are as funny as they are frightening -- but Moretz also exudes a vulnerability that explains why she's been cast in every movie for the next decade. Plus, Nic Cage being awesome? That's nothing short of a miracle.

8. 'Micmacs'

French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet is one of my favorites, but his movies give me a touch of Goldilocks syndrome: "City of Lost Children" is brilliant but very, very dark (both thematically and literally - it's actually a little hard to see) while "Amelie" is beautiful but so aggressively feel-good it may cause early-onset diabetes. But "Micmacs?" It's the story of  a man burdened with life-long bad luck and a plan to punish the munitions manufacturers who caused it. With the perfect combination of gravity and whimsy -- and many of Jeunet's lovably bizarre regulars --  it's just right.

7. 'True Grit'

I'm no fan of Westerns -- but I've never met a Coen Brothers movie I didn't love, and "True Grit" is no exception. It's got Jeff Bridges at his mush-mouthed best, good old-fashioned cowboy values and, despite the moments of levity that mark most Coen Brothers movies, some real... grit. Furthermore, newcomer Hailee Steinfeld gives a performance that ought to result in the sort of casting juju that Chloe Moretz has enjoyed all year.

6. 'Toy Story 3'

You might want to sit down for this. I've only seen bits and pieces of "Toy Story"... and I've never seen a minute of "Toy Story 2." I know. I'm an alien creature, un-American, probably a Communist, etc. But consider this: I'm the perfect person to judge the quality of "Toy Story 3" as a stand-alone feature. My verdict? It works on every possible level -- cute and cuddly for children, poignant and shockingly reminiscent of internment camps for those old enough to recognize poignancy and Holocaust references. It's beautifully animated, beautifully written, and speaks (beautifully) to love, loss, and getting on with life.

5. 'Inception'

I applaud Christopher Nolan for making "Inception" -- and I applaud the movie-going public for loving it. While it's a clever business strategy to make a movie that all but insists on multiple viewings, it's also a real gamble. Find me one person who completely understood "Inception" the first time around and I'll show you a fibber -- smarter people than me needed infographics and flow charts to make sense of the multi-level narrative. So let's all pat ourselves on the backs for rising to the challenge -- our reward was this completely original dream of a movie. Also, the "brrrowrr rrowrr" noise from the score, which is -- let's face it -- the best sound ever recorded.

4. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1'

The trailer claimed it was the movie event of a generation... and it sort of is. Younger fans of the series have grown up with the characters and the actors -- and even for older fans, seeing all of the above reach the climax of their "Harry Potter" journey is meaningful. But more importantly: it's a really good movie.  The most personal and character-driven of the series so far, it looks amazing , feels even better, and gives my heart a little wingardium leviosa as I face the end of my favorite story.

3. 'Black Swan'

Ladies, ballet enthusiasts and cinephiles, may I interest you in a dance movie directed by the incomparable Darren Aronofsky, with performances guaranteed to garner Oscar nominations and a story that you’ll mull over for days? Gentlemen and other fans of girl-on-girl action, may I interest you in a psychological thriller that features Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis totally getting it on, in a scene that may or may not be real, but features Portman and Kunis doing it regardless? Amazingly, it's the same movie; whether you're an aficionado of ballet or lesbian sex scenes -- or not -- every moment of "Black Swan" is utterly captivating.

2. 'The King's Speech'

Oscar buzz can be the kiss of death for a movie that opens in limited release — by the time it shows up in your local theater, you're already sick of talking about it, but "The King's Speech" is the rare gem that deserves every ounce of praise.  If you're thinking, (and I wouldn't blame you... since I did too) "There's no way a King George VI biopic can be anything but painfully boring," take the leap of faith. In addition to being the first period bromance in recorded history, it's an amazing, inspiring story.

1. 'The Social Network'

I think I laughed when I  heard they were making a Facebook movie. I mean... it launched six years ago, and if the number of elderly relatives' friend requests I ignore is any indication, it's just hitting its mainstream stride. It seemed like writing a history book about a war that's still being waged.  Then I found out that "they" were director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin, and I stopped laughing. I give this top honors without hesitation. I was sucked into Mark Zuckerberg's (possibly semi-fictional) world completely for two solid hours. I can see why the real-life Facebook creator would never call this his favorite film -- he comes off socially dysfunctional at best -- but the movie does him one favor: if the story presented by "The Social Network" is accurate at all, no one -- not even the people who claim the idea as their own -- could have done with Facebook what Zuckerberg did. And I hope Jesse Eisenberg gets an Oscar for making it so engagingly clear.

NextMovie senior editor Brooke Tarnoff also sings in a band, regularly ignores off-leash laws in the park with her dog, and reads zombie fiction like it's her job. (It's not.)  Follow her on Twitter.

Fox Searchlight

I'm not going to lie, 2010 started off pretty dubiously. Aside from the rare spring gem like "Kick-Ass," the year looked like it was shaping up to be one of the worst in eons. Even summer was a month old before "Toy Story 3" and "Inception" saved it.

But June through December brought so many treats, we got fat off its rewards. Mmm, taste the thrill rides. You know it's a good year when it's a struggle to whittle your list of favorites down to a mere 10.

Of the roughly 100 or so movies I saw this year, here are my faves, and because I'm a dirty cheat, some honorable mentions, too.

10.'Machete'

Robert Rodriguez's gloriously over-the-top intro to "Mexploitation" (can this be an ongoing genre please?) didn't do so bueno at the box office, which is a shame: Audiences missed out on one of the year's most ridiculously fun movies. Granted, with a plot that paints an "illegal" as idol and gun-toting border patrol vigilantes and conservative politicians as diabolical d-bags, your stance on the immigration debate will obviously affect your feelings toward the film. But how can you not root for the rugged and scar-faced Danny Trejo? And remember, Machete don't text.

9. 'Kick-Ass'

We didn't have to wait until summer for the year's best superhero movie. April's stylish actioner from director Matthew Vaughn about a fanboy who puts on the super-tights despite no discernible fighting skills landed in theaters like a roundhouse kick to the jugular. Reason numero uno: The revelatory Chloe Moretz, whose pint-sized but dirty-mouthed and physically punishing Hit Girl proved the year's most exciting movie character. It's too bad not enough people saw it in theaters, but I guess that's why God invented the Blu-ray.

8. '127 Hours'

Murder, heroin, utopia, zombies, outer-space, India… Danny Boyle can do it all! The director recently named My Favorite Ever took on the real-life story of Aron Rolston, the hiker who starred in his own terrifying version of "Saw 3D," and somehow made the cut-and-dry tale (ha) of a guy trapped in a canyon for the titular duration intensely bone-chilling. It helps that he had the fantastic James Franco one-upping "Castaway" Tom Hanks' one-man show (Hanks could at least walk, swim, play volleyball, etc.) And don't worry, the carnage isn't nearly as bad as reports of fainting would suggest. You won't faint – assuming you are not a gigantic wimp.

7. 'Inception'

The mind-f**ker to end all mind-f**kers, Christopher Nolan's futuristic thriller/mind-heist flick was the most debated movie of the year, and almost required repeated viewings for moviegoers to responsibly engage in the dialogue (multiple dream levels? A better racket than 3-D IMAX showings). But beyond the astounding FX, layered narratives and cliffhanging climax, what's most reassuring about "Inception" is that it was a summer sensation that wasn't a sequel, prequel, remake, or based on a book, comic, TV show, "SNL" skit, theme park ride, informerical, etc. It was a unique, original idea. Let's hope Nolan's planted that thought in Hollywood's collective mind.

6. 'The King's Speech'

This one is overloaded with bells and whistles typically found in Oscar bait: impairment, historical figures, accents, costumes, Geoffrey Rush... But it also boasts something significant that most lack: genuine emotional depth. While Colin Firth (as the stammering King George VI) is getting most of the awards attention (and is indeed royal), to me Rush (as his unconventional speech coach) is the heart and soul of this movie. Their poignant relationship is what accounts for the aforementioned depth, making "The King's Speech" far and away the greatest bromance of 2010. Oh… "and tits."

5. 'Exit Through the Gift Shop'

A documentary that begins as a profile on the infamous, evasive, rabble-rousing street artist Banksy (as well as the artform he thrives in), it evolves into… well, you just need to see it, damnit. Rarely will you find a doc so sneaky, twisty and original, so much so in fact that people are vehemently debating its authenticity (Banksy swears on your mother it's legit). Its story so befuddling, "Gift Shop"s' greatest achievement is forcing its viewers to question the very notion of art.

4. 'Toy Story 3'

I have to admit, I didn't sob like a baby like many of you (don't get me wrong, I do enjoy a good man-cry), but I was still bowled over by Pixar's latest, their 100th or so straight tour de force (OK Pixar, now you guys are just showing off…). Like its predecessors, it amazes with its endless collection of dynamic characters, true nostalgia, and pitch-perfect blend of warmth and humor. And as much as we all love us a "Toy Story," Part "3" brought such a satisfying climax to this trilogy that I hope they don't actually make a fourth. Of course, I'm sure those show-offs would just prove me wrong again.

3. 'The Kids Are All Right'

Much like TV's sensation "Modern Family," this sleeper hit (about a lesbian couple whose teenage kids seek out their biological daddy) takes a fresh and refreshing look at a 21st century nuclear family, a portrayal that's honest, heartfelt and humorous. Unlike the film sensation "Brokeback Mountain" (regrettably dubbed "the gay cowboy movie"), it has avoided being defined by its main characters' sexuality. And have we mentioned how superb the performances are? Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo are veritably great, but Annette Bening is downright sensational and should finally land an Oscar.

2. 'Black Swan'

Two things I never imagined would happen: That I'd be raving to everyone I know about "this new ballet thriller," and that I'd be having nightmares involving Natalie Portman's eyes. Stylistically, Darren Aronofsky picks up where he left off with "The Wrestler," and revisits the psychological surreality of "Requiem of Dream," resulting in his best work yet. Driven by three top-notch performances (Portman, Mila Kunis and the underappreciated Barbara Hershey), it's a movie that keeps you on edge from opening frame to the last, and sticks in your mind for days to come. And yes, it's about ballet.

1. 'The Social Network'

Speaking of unlikely topics, director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin weaved a thoroughly riveting tale from another one: the creation of Facebook. His expose of its formation by antihero Mark Zuckerberg (gotta love that one of the film's prevalent themes hinged on the debate as to whether or not Zuckerberg was, in fact, an a-hole; it's no wonder the guy is donating half of his wealth to charity) grips you in the opening scene and doesn't let go for the next 119 minutes, as we hang onto its razor-sharp dialogue, behold its grade-A performances (Jesse Eisenberg is especially brilliant) and marvel at the real-life making of a modern-day billionaire. It's still hard to believe "the Facebook movie" turned out to be a work of genius.

Honorable Mentions:

Best Kids Movie That Sounds More Like a Porno: "How to Train Your Dragon"
Best P-Diddy Video: "Get Him to the Greek"
The Paul Hogan Australian Award of Excellence: "Animal Kingdom"
Best Film Directed by a Deranged Fugitive: "The Ghost Writer"
Best Movie From Some Strange Place That's Not in America: "The Secret In Their Eyes"
Best Marky Wahlberg Comedy: "The Other Guys"
Best Marky Wahlberg Drama: "The Fighter"
Best Film Involving the Skinning of a Squirrel: "Winter's Bone"
Best Kids Movie I Found Funnier Than Kids: "Megamind"
Worst Date Movie: "Blue Valentine"
Best Brooklyn Movie/Most Underrated Film of 2010: "Brooklyn's Finest"

NextMovie executive editor Kevin Polowy also loves '90s Hip-Hop, anything with the word "Buffalo" in it, and Helen Mirren. Follow him on Twitter.

Fox Searchlight

I must confess – I genuinely think 2010 was a good year in movies.

Of course, I'm not simply basing that on a series of obviously stellar performances and the number of films deserving of awards recognition. And I'm not making my list after staring at a bunch of pundits' thoughts on the matter.

My favorite movies are ones that either make me feel something real and physical (and not just that sense of "I'm so smart. I saw that little indie") or that I'm inclined to watch over and over. Better yet, I like my movies to do both, and it's a tall order.

So sure, I really enjoyed and appreciated "The King's Speech" and "The Social Network" – I'm an Aaron Sorkin fan, after all – but they didn't make enough of an emotional impact and I can't picture myself popping the disc into my Blu-ray player on a snowy January night. These, however, are another story:

10. 'Despicable Me'

Who hasn't fantasized about having a bunch of minions to do your evil bidding? I spent most of my childhood trying to mold my younger brother into such a little helper, but when he got taller than me and stopped fetching my sodas while we watched TV, I knew I was doomed. And, let's be honest, he wasn't quite as cute as those little yellow guys who look fab in 3-D. The animated flick about a supervillain (voiced by Steve Carell) who turns out to have a heart as golden as those minions, not only warmed my grown-up (and considerably less conniving) heart, it inspired some serious laughs.

9. 'Catfish'

Regardless of the authenticity of this tale being a documentary or not, I'll never forget leaving the theater after seeing it. For starters, I had a huge crush on its hero, Nev Schulman, and the scene where he reads his sexts with his would-be gal pal Megan is truly hilarious. It also reminded me that while the Internet can be a scary place, it can also be a heartbreakingly pathetic one.

8. 'Let Me In'

Movie buffs were irate when it was announced that "Cloverfield"'s Matt Reeves was directing an American version of the popular Swedish horror film, "Let the Right One In," and, while I loved the original, I was among the minority of people pumped to see the English version. I wasn't disappointed. The remake remained totally loyal to its subtle-yet-scary source material – and stars Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee were just as impressive as their foreign counterparts. Dare I say, I actually feel this telling of the vampire tale is superior?

7. 'Easy A'

My name is practically synonymous with high school movies and television shows (my remote stays parked on The CW, thank you very much), so this was a movie I was born to love. That said, it far exceeded any expectations I may have had. From classic '80s movie references and a seriously cool (albeit purposefully over-the-top sexy) wardrobe to Emma Stone, Penn Badgley and Cam Gigandet, the entire movie was pure eye candy. Top it off with Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, whose every line was comedic gold, and I know exactly what I'm watching during my next girls' night in.

6. 'Inception'

From the stunningly creative visuals to Joseph Gordon-Levitt (seriously, that man wears clothes better than anyone in Hollywood), this movie was a feast. Or, best when followed by a feast, anyway, because there was no better movie to debate and discuss with friends this year than this one. So did the top fall at the end or did it just keep on spinning? The best part about this movie is that Christopher Nolan didn't make that choice – what a lesser movie it would be if he had!

5. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'

When a movie makes me cry within the first few minutes, how can it not be one of the best movies of the year (see also: last year's "Up")? This chapter served as a fitting and emotional beginning of the end for my favorite Hogwarts students and was arguably the most true to the source novels of any of the seven adaptations thus far. Sure, Hermione got a little more naked and Kreacher lacked screen time, but Dobby's demise was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the books and, appropriately, of the year in cinema. I cannot wait to see the final chapter in July, but I'm also so saddened by the prospect of saying goodbye to my pals.

4. 'The Fighter'

Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams packed a one-two-three-four acting punch in this true tale of boxing champ Micky Ward and his debilitatingly dysfunctional family, and director David O. Russell swings for much more than just a sports biopic. Having seen Ward fight live when he battled Arturo Gatti in 2002, I connected to this film more than some of the other awards bait this year. Bale is devastatingly strong as Ward’s junkie brother/trainer and probable Oscar contender Leo (“Frozen River”) gives her second scene-stealing performance of the year after “Welcome to the Rileys.”

3. 'Toy Story 3'

Seriously, who didn’t sob watching this movie? The return of Woody, Buzz and friends alone was enough to make me smile, but watching the toys bid farewell to their beloved Andy as he heads to college had huge, wet teardrops streaming down my cheeks. Kids may see colors and talking playthings when they watch these films, but I saw sheer brilliance… and a real need for someone to pass the tissues.

2. 'Black Swan'

I really love a good dance movie ("Step Up 3-D," anyone?) but this doesn't really count, despite its subject matter. The concept of using the ballet "Swan Lake" as a jumping off point for a twisty thriller was a great idea and casting Natalie Portman was an even better one. I left the theater physically shaking from tensing my muscles throughout the entire film and yet in awe of the rare beauty I saw on the screen. How often does that happen?

1. '127 Hours'

A movie about a guy trapped alone in a canyon for days should be pretty lame, right? But with the combination of the talents of "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and the inspired performance of James Franco, this movie was anything but boring. For some, seeing Franco's Aron Ralston cut off his limb sent them running for the restroom (or even the hospital), but for me, the highlight of the film was experiencing the butterflies that went all a-flutter just as Ralston's impending disaster was about to strike. It is, quite simply, a great story told in a fascinating and inspiring way.

Follow NextMovie Senior Editor Breanne L. Heldman on Twitter.

Disney

Twas a year in which sequels ("Toy Story 3," Iron Man 2"), "originals" ("Inception," "Despicable Me") and movies somewhere in between ("Alice in Wonderland") dominated the box office side-by-side.

But what movies ranked highest where it matters most (you know… in our hearts)?

From thrilling new installments in the behemoth "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" franchises to fascinating prestige films that mined gold from surprising sources like Facebook and ballet, here are our picks for the very best of the best of 2010.

25. 'The Twilight Saga: Eclipse'

That vampire-werewolf-human love triangle reached hot new heights with its third – and strongest – installment this summer. With the highly anticipated tent scene, the battle against Victoria and the newborns and (swoon) that marriage proposal, the flick was so action-packed, smooch-packed and six-packed, fans' cries of pure joy are still ringing in our ears. Or maybe those sounds are caused by the fact that we have to wait until next November to see "Breaking Dawn – Part 1." Sigh.
–Breanne L. Heldman

24. 'Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World'

Most mainstream movie fans skipped this comic book adaptation when it was in theaters – maybe they missed the obvious allure of Mary Elizabeth Winstead with multi-colored hair and vintage video game references. Here’s what else those short-sighted squares missed: adorkable performances by Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim and Ellen Wong as his sort-of-ex-girlfriend Knives Chau, a seamless integration of comic-style storytelling and big screen action, some sweet-ass fight scenes and one of the greatest soundtracks we’ve heard in years. - Brooke Tarnoff

23. 'Machete'

Robert Rodriguez's gloriously over-the-top intro to "Mexploitation" (can this be an ongoing genre please?) didn't do so bueno at the box office, which is a shame: Audiences missed out on one of the year's most ridiculously fun movies. Granted, with a plot that paints an "illegal" as idol and gun-toting border patrol vigilantes and conservative politicians as diabolical d-bags, your stance on the immigration debate will obviously affect your feelings toward the film. But how can you not root for the rugged and scar-faced Danny Trejo? And remember, Machete don't text.
–Kevin Polowy

22. 'Catfish'

Is this a really a documentary or did filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost "uncover" a "mystery" they'd already solved before turning on their cameras? A more important question might be... how much do we really care? Whether the story of internet romance and false identity is 100 percent organic, it's indisputably riveting, capturing a sense of dread and foreboding we haven't felt since the Blair Witch messed up those other real-life documentarians. – BT

21. 'Get Him to the Greek'

"The Other Guys" is widely considered the best comedy of the year (well, except by the Golden Globes, which would probably give that honor to "The Tourist"), but this relatively unheralded laugh riot is worth a second or third look. Russell Brand finishes what he started in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," delivering trademark rapid-fire wit and bombastic style in his first star vehicle, Jonah Hill conjures up heaps of humor just trying to keep up, and Sean "He'll Always Be Puffy" Combs nearly steals the entire show as a record mogul you really don't want to f**k with.  –KP

20. 'Animal Kingdom'

One of those movies that will make you praise God (or James Cameron) that your family is only just dysfunctional, this haunting and intense Australian import about a quiet teen (James Frecheville) forced to move in with his extended kin of killers and criminals takes the opposite approach of crime classics like "The Godfather" and "The Sopranos." Their life's work is deglamorized, and this is one clan you wouldn't want to be a part of, overseen by should-be-Oscar winner Jacki Weaver's matriarch, a woman who makes Mommie Dearest look like Peggy Bundy. --KP

19. 'Despicable Me'

Who hasn't fantasized about having a bunch of minions to do your evil bidding? Now imagine those minions yellow, cute and in super-cool 3-D. The animated flick about a supervillain (voiced by Steve Carell) who turns out to have a heart as golden as those minions, not only warmed our grown-up hearts, it inspired some serious laughs. Placing this treat this low in our top 25 only proves what a fantastic year it's been for animated movies. –BLH

18. 'Blue Valentine'

Don't take a new date to see this tough drama, which teeters between the puppy-love courtship and years-later unhappy union of a now-married couple (Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams), likable but normally flawed people. A meditation on the nature of romantic relationships that's undeniably depressing yet incredibly insightful, the film is buoyed by a pair of remarkable performances from two of their generation's best. So while new couples may want to avoid this one on principle, it will at least make singletons not long for that loving feeling. – KP

17. Kick-Ass

It's been a great year for the unlikely action star (see gun-toting Helen Mirren), but top honors belong to one pint-sized she-ninja: Chloe Moretz. The 13-year-old is cast in seven films coming out next year, and she clearly owes her status of It Girl to Hit Girl, the foul-mouthed baby ass-kicker of "Kick-Ass." Moretz is just one of the movie's charms -- deep down, we identify with the main character's urge to throw on his green jammies and fight crime, and it's always a pleasure to see Nic Cage in an increasingly rare moment of true greatness. -- BT

16. 'Winter's Bone'

Like "Frozen River" two years ago, this micro-budgeted indie set in the Heartland has taken Hollywood by storm (if not necessarily America), at least in terms of award circuits and critics lists. Breakout star Jennifer Lawrence is a revelation as the film's tormented heart and soul, a poor teen in rural Missouri forced to care and provide for her ill mother and siblings while trying to chase down her meth-cooking pops.  This quiet thriller heads into unexpected terrain and has the ammunition to shock. It might make you afraid of Missouri, too.  --KP

15. 'Easy A'

It’s the kind of movie made for a slumber party -- witty, a little naughty, and featuring sleepover movie queen  Amanda Bynes. Lucky for anyone hoping to make a buck from the production, "Easy A" also has a sharp script, a deluge of references to '80s films, a stellar performance by star Emma Stone, and an equally fine performance by her cleavage in a series of corsets. Also, we dare you to find a set of cooler movie parents than Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson. (No, seriously. Let's play Truth or Dare. We just put on "Easy A" and the s'mores are almost ready.) - BT

14. 'Let Me In'

Movie buffs were irate when it was announced that "Cloverfield"'s Matt Reeves was directing an American version of the popular Swedish horror film, "Let the Right One In." But anyone who gave it a chance owes Reeves and stars Chloe Moretz and Kodi Smit-McPhee their props; not only is the remake totally loyal to its subtle-yet-scary source material, but some even argue that this telling of the vampire tale is superior. –BLH

13. 'The Town'

We've seen plenty of bank robber movies and a slew of Boston-is-a-gritty-city flicks, but this one is a rarity -- it did well in the box office and is now on a somewhat surprising awards nomination tear. Ben Affleck proves yet again that he makes a solid writer and director, Jeremy Renner reassures any doubters that his "Hurt Locker" performance was no fluke, and even "Gossip Girl" starlet Blake Lively makes it clear she can do more than don a plunging neckline and Jimmy Choos.
–BLH

12. 'How to Train Your Dragon'

In a year that wasn't so spectacular for the 3-D boom (at least in terms of quality… enough with the retrofitting, mmm k?), animated 3-D films were the medium's shining stars, and none made better use of the added dimension than this high-soaring adventure. But beyond the dazzling visuals, there's the profound friendship at the film's core, between a boy and his "pet" dragon, and applauded messages of peace and understanding. Sure, they might be different colors (and breathe fire), but can't we all just get along? -- KP

11. 'The Fighter'

Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Melissa Leo and Amy Adams pack a one-two-three-four punch in this true tale of boxing champ Micky Ward and his debilitatingly dysfunctional family, and director David O. Russell swings for much more than just a sports biopic. Bale is heartbreakingly scary-skinny as Ward's junkie brother/trainer and probable Oscar contender Leo ("Frozen River") gives her second scene-stealing performance of the year after "Welcome to the Rileys."
–BLH

10. 'The Other Guys'

Will Ferrell is funny. This comes as a shock to no one -- we've all seen "Old School." But even though Mark Wahlberg's given us a few comedy sneak previews ("Date Night," "SNL"... "Fear"), we were still bowled over by his scene-stealing performance. It was a lean year for comedy, but the power-duo of Ferrell and Wahlberg -- plus some amazing cameos, priceless quotables and Eva Mendes looking exceptionally fine -- would still make our list among stiffer competition. – BT

9. 'The Kids Are All Right'

Much like TV's sensation "Modern Family," this sleeper hit (about a lesbian couple whose teenage kids seek out their biological daddy) takes  a fresh and refreshing look at a 21st century nuclear family, a portrayal that's honest, heartfelt and humorous. Unlike the film sensation "Brokeback Mountain" (regrettably dubbed "the gay cowboy movie"), it has avoided being defined by its main characters' sexuality. And have we mentioned how superb the performances are? Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo are veritably great, but Annette Bening is downright sensational and should finally land an Oscar. -- KP

8.  'True Grit'

If you haven't seen John Wayne in the 1969 original, fear not -- the 2010 version has everything you need: Jeff Bridges at his mush-mouthed best, a sturdy performance from breakout star Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon providing some comic relief and, despite the moments of levity that mark most Coen Brothers movies, some real grit. "True Grit" holds onto the earnestness of classic American Westerns but explores a brutality that puts the good old days in perspective. -- BT

7.  'The King’s Speech'

Oscar buzz can be the kiss of death for a movie that opens in limited release -- by the time it shows up in your local theater, you're already sick of talking about it, but "The King's Speech" is the rare gem that deserves every ounce of praise.  If you're thinking, (and we wouldn't blame you) "there's no way a King George VI biopic can be anything but painfully boring," take the leap of faith. In addition to being the first period bromance in recorded history, it's an amazing, inspiring story. -- BT

6. 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1'

When a movie makes audience members cry within the first few minutes, how can it not be one of the best movies of the year (see also: last year's "Up")? This chapter served as a fitting and emotional beginning of the end for our favorite Hogwarts students and was arguably the most true to the source novels of any of the seven adaptations thus far. Sure, Hermione got a little more naked and Kreacher lacked screen time, but Dobby's demise was one of the most heartbreaking moments of the books and, appropriately, of the year in cinema. We cannot wait to see the final chapter in July, but are devastated at the thought of saying goodbye to our pals. -- BLH

5. '127 Hours'

A movie about a guy trapped alone in a canyon for days should be pretty lame, right? But with the combination of the talents of "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle and inspired star James Franco, this movie is anything but boring. For some, seeing Franco's Aron Ralston cut off his limb sent them running for the restroom (or even the hospital), but for us, the highlight of the film is experiencing the butterflies that went all a-flutter just as Ralston's impending disaster was about to strike. Of course that's just where the adventure begins. –BLH

4. 'Inception'

The mind-f**ker to end all mind-f**kers, Christopher Nolan's futuristic thriller/mind-heist flick was the most debated movie of the year, and almost required repeated viewings for moviegoers to responsibly engage in the dialogue (multiple dream levels? A better racket than 3-D IMAX showings). But beyond the astounding FX, layered narratives and cliffhanging climax, what's most reassuring about "Inception" is that it was a summer sensation that wasn't a sequel, prequel, remake, or based on a book, comic, TV show, "SNL" skit, theme park ride, informerical, etc. It was a unique, original idea. Let's hope Nolan's planted that thought in Hollywood's collective mind. --KP

3. 'Toy Story 3'

Seriously, who didn't sob watching this movie? The return of Woody, Buzz and friends alone is enough to put a smile on our faces, but watching the toys bid farewell to their beloved Andy as he heads to college had huge, wet teardrops streaming down our cheeks. Kids may see colors and talking playthings when they watch these films, but we see pure brilliance and a real need to pass the tissues. –BLH

2. 'Black Swan'

Ladies, ballet enthusiasts and cinephiles, may we interest you in a dance movie directed by the incomparable Darren Aronofsky, with performances guaranteed to garner Oscar nominations and a story that you'll mull over for days? Gentlemen and other fans of girl-on-girl action, may we interest you in a psychological thriller that features Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis totally getting it on, in a scene that may or may not be real, but features Portman and Kunis doing it regardless? Amazingly, it's the same movie. And it's wonderful. - BT

1. ‘The Social Network'

Like "Black Swan" and ballet, director David Fincher and writer Aaron Sorkin weaved a thoroughly riveting tale from the unlikeliest of topics: the creation of Facebook. His expose of its formation by antihero Mark Zuckerberg (gotta love that one of the film's prevalent themes hinged on the debate as to whether or not Zuckerberg was, in fact, an a-hole; it's no wonder the guy is donating half of his wealth to charity) grips you in the opening scene and doesn't let go for the next 119 minutes, as we hang onto its razor-sharp dialogue, behold its grade-A performances (Jesse Eisenberg is especially brilliant) and marvel at the real-life making of a modern-day billionaire. It's still hard to believe "the Facebook movie" turned out to be a work of genius. -- KP 

Follow NextMovie and its editors Kevin Polowy, Breanne L. Heldman and Brooke Tarnoff on Twitter.

Weinstein Co.

The Golden Globes nominations were announced this morning and Colin Firth's period piece about the difficulties of stuttering led the way as "The King's Speech" earned seven nominations, with "The Fighter" and "The Social Network" close behind at six apiece.

Those movies were joined by "Inception" and "Black Swan" in the Best Motion Picture category, with each of the five films also receiving  a Best Director nomination as well as a Best Actor or Best Actress nod -- with the notable exception of Leonardo DiCaprio, who was left out for "Inception."

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day was the total shut-out for "True Grit," the highly anticipated western from the Coen Brothers; despite widely acclaimed turns by award favorites Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon, the film failed to earn even a single nomination just a day after scoring 11 nods from the Critics' Choice Awards.

The movie that benefited the most from "True Grit's" absence was Mark Wahlberg's boxing biopic "The Fighter," which, in addition to the  nominations for Best Motion Picture, Best Director and Best Actor for Wahlberg also received nods for Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale) and Best Supporting Actress (both Amy Adams and Melissa Leo).

Other than "True Grit," the rest of the early award season favorites cemented their position. The Golden Globes format, however, which segregates movies into strict categories including Drama, Comedy/Musical and Animation, means that films like "Toy Story 3" were inevitably shut out of the major awards in favor of their specific niche.

That division also led to some other anomalies which will make handicapping the Oscar race more difficult rather than less difficult. Annette Bening, for instance, is expected to vie head-to-head with Natalie Portman for Best Actress at the Academy Awards, but since their movies were assigned different categories -- Bening's "The Kids Are All Right" was deemed a Comedy while Portman's "Black Swan" was ruled a Drama -- they won't be competing with each other at the Golden Globes.

But benefiting the most from the somewhat arbitrary classifications from the Hollywood Foreign Press was "The Tourist." Despite lukewarm reviews and tepid box office performance, the film earned a Best Actress nomination for Angelina Jolie, a Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp and a Best Motion Picture nomination as well -- all because the movie was deemed a Comedy by the powers that be. An unintentional comedy, to be sure.

Other notable highlights form the Golden Globe nominations:

• Emma Stone earned her first Golden Globe nomination, getting a nod for Best Actress in a Comdey or Musical category for "Easy A."

• Johnny Depp will be competing against himself in the Best Actor in a Comedy category; besides "The Tourist," he was also nominated for "Alice in Wonderland."

• "RED," the comic book ensemble flick about geriatric spies coming out of retirement, scored a nomination in the Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical category. We didn't see that one coming!

• Both Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams earned nominations in their respective acting categories for their roles in the controversial relationship drama "Blue Valentine;" they previously each earned a nod from the Critics' Choice Awards as well.

• James Franco landed a Best Actor nomination for sawing his own arm off in "127 Hours."

• And finally, Justin Timberlake, who has been publicly campaigning for a best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in "The Social Network," was shut out again while his co-stars Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield both earned nods. Bringing sexy back just doesn't mean as much as it once did.

The Golden Globes will air live on NBC on Sunday, January 16 at 8PM EST.

Fox Searchlight

All the talk in the early stages of awards season so far has revolved around the juggernaut that is 'The Social Network," but that might change today as "The Black Swan" unexpectedly topped the list of nominees for this year's Critics' Choice Movie Awards with a record-breaking 12 nods, including Best Picture, Best Director for Darren Aronofsky, Best Actress for Natalie Portman and Best Supporting Actress for Mila Kunis.

That's not to say that "The Social Network" was slighted -- the film about the creation of Facebook earned a very solid nine nominations. Still, considering that three other films also earned more nominations -- "True Grit" and "The King's Speech" both had 11 while "Inception" scored 10 -- the nominations suggest that this awards season could be even more chaotic than we initally thought, with no clear frontrunner. 

Of special note for "The Social Network," of course, is its breakout cast of young superstars, but while both Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield landed expected acting nods in the Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor categories respectively, Justin Timberlake was shut out, which could be a blow to his chance at landing the much-coveted Oscar nomination he has been publicly stumping for.

Meanwhile, "Toy Story 3" burnished its chances at breaking free from the animation ghetto by earning five nominations, including both Best Picture and Best Animated Feature as well as key non-animation categories like Best Adapted Screenplay.

Other highlights from the nominations for the 16th annual Critics' Choice Awards, which air live on VH1 on Jan. 14:

Lionsgate

• Chloe Mortez (right) will be competing against herself in the Best Young Actor/Actress category, having earned separate nominations for both "Let Me In" and "Kick-Ass."

• Nicole Kidman received her seventh Critics' Choice nomination, this time in the Best Actress category for her turn in "Rabbit Hole."

• The controversy surrounding "Blue Valentine," which was originally given an NC-17 rating, didn't hurt the film; stars Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams were both nominated in the major acting categories.

• Noomi Rapace earned a rare nomination in a major acting category for a role in a foreign film, landing a  Best Actress nod for her portrayal of Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish version of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

• And this year's little indie that could label has apparently been bestowed upon the critically acclaimed low-budget drama "Winter's Bone," which earned four nominations including Best Picture and Best Actress for Jennifer Lawrence.

You can check out the full list of nominees here.

Robert Adam Mayer

Natalie Portman's performance in "Black Swan" is making every critic's Oscar predictions list, but if you're wondering what the average Joe thinks of Darren Aronofsky's thriller -- well, ask your friends.

If you're wondering what Boot Camp Clik rapper Sean Price thinks of America's favorite ballet movie, you've come to the right place.

We sat down for a beer with Price after a screening of "Black Swan" -- check out the video for his reaction to girl-on-girl action, dance-related foot deformities and whether "Black Swan" is, in fact, the finest movie of the year... but mostly the girl-on-girl action.

Sean Price's latest Mix CD is  "KIMBO PRICE" is now available from Duck Down Music.

More NextMovie Originals:

Phee the DVD Guy
Voldemort Takes Manhattan
Ghostface Killer on the Street

Weinstein Co.

UPDATE: The MPAA has overturned its initial NC-17 rating for "Blue Valentine" and has given it an R rating instead after Harvey Weinstein himself appeared at a hearing to plea the film's case, Deadline reports.

--------------------

For years, the MPAA has made movie ratings decisions that make you smack your head and shout, "Are ya high?"

Their odd, puritanical aversion towards sex and acceptance of violence (they gave "Star Wars" entry "Attack of the Clones" a "PG," even with a scene of a child watching his father get decapitated) has stirred a recent L.A. Times article to point out an even weirder discrepancy between two new films: "Black Swan" and "Blue Valentine."

Both films feature a nudity-free oral sex scene, one with some drugged-out Mila Kunis-on-Natalie Portman action, the other with Ryan Gosling sweetly exploring Michelle Williams' garden of earthly delights. "Swan" got an "R"-rating, while "Valentine" has been slapped with a prohibitive NC-17.

At a recent junket, we talked with Williams, who also executive produced "Valentine," directly about this mind-boggling ratings decision.

"It has incited my passion and fighter spirit because what it's doing is limiting where the movie can be seen," she tells NextMovie. "You can't play ads for it on television. So what it comes down to essentially is censorship."

The actress hadn't seen "Black Swan," but thinks the anonymous board's ruling may have something to do with her film's realism.

"What's frustrating about it is that we don't know," she said. "They don't comment on it publicly. From what I understand, it's the oral sex scene. I wonder if this is a first, if it was the ratings board trying to process a first oral sex scene that's about a woman's pleasure, between a man and a woman? Is that it?"

We asked "Valentine" writer/director Derek Cianfrance, how he would convince a prohibited young person to go see the movie… or at least sneak into it.

"That’s the job of the parents," he said. "That’s my problem with the MPAA rating right now is that they're taking control away from parents. We tried to take a responsible approach towards sexuality, not try to sensationalize sexuality. It's not eroticism. It's a movie that shows sex as an essential part of a dialogue and relationship. You can't have a relationship without sex."

The sex in "Blue Valentine" has real consequences: Williams' character gets pregnant, and that child has wide-reaching effects on both her and Gosling's character's lives, but not in an After-School Special kind of way. Cianfrance would show his own kids the first 20-minutes of the film, and if they got older maybe the whole thing, and with good reason.

"If I think that they’re ready I would let them see it because I feel like it’s a cautionary tale. And I would rather have a teenager see a film that treated sex with responsibility and honesty rather than see sex as a sensationalized kind of like slow motion hot tub… just fakeness."

So far the media and fans are on Williams and Cianfrance's side, and with an appeal decision due next week all eyes are on the MPAA to see if their organization still stands for "Mindlessly Prude Anonymous A**holes."

Said the director, "I feel like we're getting punished in a way but I think we'll be able to overturn it. There's enough support and I think audiences deserve a choice."

(Originally published on Dec. 8, 2010, at 10:34 a.m. ET)

Fox Searchlight

A fevered dream of a movie, "Black Swan" is Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to his Oscar-nominated Mickey Rourke vehicle "The Wrester," and boy does it deliver. Hypnotic, brutal, exhilarating and seductive, "Black Swan" is sure to satiate the appetite of Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream") fans, and will no doubt attract many more.

Set within the competitive and draining world of professional ballet, "Black Swan" tracks the rise of prima ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) to the top of the ranks after she lands the coveted lead role in a New York production of "Swan Lake." But all is not roses for Nina. Treated at home like an infant by her overbearing mother (Barbara Hershey), and loathed by her peers in the company, Nina struggles to hold on to the role as soon as she nabs it. 

"Swan Lake" requires that Nina play both the innocent White Swan and the seductive Black Swan. While she has no problem tapping into her vulnerable sweet side, she struggles to let herself go and embody the darkness that lurks in the Black Swan. With the aid of a new member of the company Lily (Mila Kunis), Nina embarks on a journey to uncover the beast that lies within.

It's safe to say that you've never seen Portman like this before. Racketing up her voice a few octaves higher than usual, Portman's Nina is so high strung and hell bent on being "perfect" it's suffocating to watch; mostly because Portman makes Nina's struggle so palpable. Her eventual metamorphosis into her darker self is truly something to behold. 

Unlike Nina, Portman owns the role from the outset. It's no wonder her performance is being touted as an Oscar frontrunner in the Best Actress race.

Aronofsky, meanwhile, directs "Black Swan" like a ballet, infusing his thriller with the music of "Swan Lake," and building towards a climax that's operatic in scope. Aided by a gritty, handheld style, similar to his approach in "The Wrestler," Aronofsky shows the blood,  sweat and tears that goes into the mounting of a ballet production, and is not afraid to go bold and all fantastical on us in portraying Nina's tormented mind. As she begins to go off the deep end, Aronorfsky does too, pulling out all the stops for a finale sure to leave you on a high.

Take the plunge with this bird. Just make sure to breathe.

Sony

For "Black Swan," director Darren Aronofsky trusted longtime collaborator Clint Mansell to fill out the whole soundtrack. The upcoming film "Blue Valentine," meanwhile, is scored entirely by indie rock band Grizzly Bear.

And then, of course, there's Daft Punk's creation for the upcoming "TRON: Legacy." 

But these defy movie soundtrack conventions. The majority of the great ones are more like mixtapes (yeah, we're referencing you, Zach Braff), made by director for his girlfriend film. It is sweet, but impersonal.

So when a director collaborates with only one musician to build the soundtrack, it's like a boyfriend writing and recording an entire album for and inspired by his girlfriend. With that in mind, here are our 13 favorite single-artist soundtracks.

13. 'Where The Wild Things Are' (2009)

Artist: Karen O
Standout Track: "All Is Love"
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs' sexy vixen Karen O showed her more innocent side with her first film soundtrack. Naming her backing band The Kids, the record is comprised of expectedly well-executed, naïve fun. Just like the movie is more of a children's film for adults, the tunes are children's songs for adults. Karen O did a wonderful job creating music that makes you dream of faraway places, clouds that look like ponies and fuzzy friendly beasts.

12. Ghost Dog (1999)

Artist: RZA
Standout Track: "Ghost Dog Theme"
Tall, white-haired indie stalwart Jim Jarmusch and Wu-Tang member RZA must look completely out-of-place standing next to one another. However, they share the same passion for samurai culture and films. That is why they worked so well together on a film about a hitman in the hood, who lives by the ancient code of the samurai. RZA produced both the score and soundtrack, both heavy in hip-hop and Japanese elements.

11. 'Requiem For A Dream' (2000)

Artist: Clint Mansell
Standout Track: "Lux Aeterna"
Mansell mashed string instruments with an electronica feel and invented a style that's now often imitated and never duplicated that well. The cold and discomforting score, performed by the Kronos Quartet, has become a cult classic and inspired a remix compilation by some of the world's top DJs. The theme "Lux Aeterna" was reorchestrated for "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" trailer. "Aeterna" is so uniquely haunting that other movies have used it for their trailers as well, including "I Am Legend," "The Da Vinci Code" and "Sunshine."

10. 'About A Boy' (2002)

Artist: Badly Drawn Boy
Standout Track: "A Minor Incident"
Writer Nick Hornby's ("High Fidelity") career is so defined by music, his films have to be as well. That's why it seemed a bit unusual and definitely risky to put the entire "About A Boy" soundtrack in the hands of a single musician. Other than his clever stage name, what made Badly Drawn Boy the perfect choice? Well, his lyrics and tunes are childlike and fun, but also have depth and darkness to them. That makes his songs a perfect fit for the film's story of a man who refuses to grow up.

9. 'Hedwig And The Angry Inch' (2001)

Artist: Stephen Trask
Standout Track: "The Angry Inch"
Star James Cameron Mitchell and musician Stephen Trask originally hatched the story of Hedwig, a German immigrant and pseudo-transgender with rock aspirations, during open-mic drag queen shows. It became an Off-Broadway hit and then a movie cult classic. While most musicals look toward Stephen Sondheim for inspiration, Trask used David Bowie, Iggy Pop and Lou Reed to find Hedwig's sound. The punk rock and glam tunes are a great listen whether you know the story or not.

8. 'Virgin Suicides' (1996)

Artist: Air
Standout Track: "Highschool Lover"
This selection is a bit of a cheat. Sofia Coppola's acclaimed debut is set in 1970s Michigan and period songs fill the movie. However, the score, composed for the film by French electronic duo Air, continues to be more beloved than the soundtrack. That is because the spooky yet romantic sounds resonate. In each track, Air captures the movie's tone and era: the wonderment and fear that came with being an adolescent in the '70s. Sometimes it takes a couple Europeans to illustrate an American time period through music, using sincerity and not irony.

7. Once (2007)

Artist: The Swell Season
Standout Track: "Falling Slowly"
Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglová comprise the folk rock duo The Swell Season. A real-life couple at the time, they stole moviegoers' hearts that year by recording the music for and starring in this indie musical. "Falling Slowly" ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song. That's pretty amazing since the movie was produced for under $160,000 and few people outside of Ireland knew the duo's previous work. The songs range from moments of relationship bliss to agony. Maybe that's why listeners relate so well.

6. 'Shaft' (1971)

Artist: Isaac Hayes
Standout Track: "Theme from Shaft"
Hayes was introduced to the '90s generation as Chef on "South Park." However, their parents knew him well as the man who gave music to the baddest brother of the '70s, John Shaft. This double-album became Hayes' biggest commercial and critical success, hitting #1 on both the U.S. and U.K. music charts. Oddly enough, Hayes only did the project in hopes of being cast as the lead role. His deep soulful voice was no match for Richard Roundtree's badass Afro though.

5. 'Harold and Maude' (1971)

Artist: Cat Stevens
Standout Track: “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out”
Stevens' honest yet playful songwriting style may seem an odd pairing with Hal Ashby's dark romantic comedy. Yet both deal with existentialist drama in a lighter way than their contemporaries and also inspire similar cult followings. Stevens composed “Don’t Be Shy” and “If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out” specifically for the film. His folksy style feels classic and contemporary at the same time, making him the perfect bridge between lovers 60 years apart.

4. 'Magnolia' (1999)

Artist: Aimee Mann
Standout Track: "One"
We know there are a few songs on this album by other artists (please don't jump on our back). The album is primarily by Mann -- she receives billing on the cover and that's good enough for us. Mann's smoky croon and sometimes-fun/sometimes-haunting music is iconic of Los Angeles' arts scene (she and director P.T. Anderson met at the L.A. hipster hub Largo). She can take listeners from reality to surreal in moments, just like this movie. The song "Save Me" garnered an Oscar nod, but lost to Phil Collins' contribution to "Tarzan."

3. 'Superfly' (1972)

Artist: Curtis Mayfield
Standout Track: "Freddie's Dead"
With his third studio release, Mayfield really hit his funky stride with this album. The songs on "Super Fly" didn't just embody the film, they became anthems for '70s black culture and the entire blaxploitation genre. Even though the movie paints drug dealers and criminals in an ambiguous light, Mayfield's lyrics are far more critical. He wanted to empower listeners with funk and soul. The album became one of the few soundtracks to make more money than the movie it accompanied.

2. 'American Gangster' (2007)

Artist: Jay-Z
Standout Track: "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..."
So inspired by the film, Jay-Z came out of "retirement" to record the soundtrack. It truly sounds like his personal reaction to the story and proved to be just the momentum he needed to top the music charts again. "Gangster" became one of the top-selling albums of '07, with 425,861 copies sold in its first week. No lover of hip-hop or crime drama should be without it.

1. 'Purple Rain' (1984)

Artist: Prince
Standout Track: "When Doves Cry"
Vanity Fair named this the best soundtrack ever and it's tough to argue. Prince is as amazing at creating music as he is horrible at acting in "Purple Rain." Forget that the movie doesn't make much sense and was considered by many as vanity project. The soundtrack is truly awesome, selling 20 million copies and winning three Grammys and an Oscar. It is Prince at the height of his artistry – expertly fusing rock, soul, R&B and even jazz.

Fox Searchlight

Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis are dazzling audiences in the new psychological thriller, "Black Swan," a glamorous yet unflinching look at the world of ballet.

Lithe dancers who flit their arms and pirouette with such dreamy grace promptly go backstage, peel off their toenails and snap their tendons back into place. Such effortless beauty comes with a lot of pain and blood... and maybe a little something else in "Black Swan."

Portman and Kunis did an intense amount of training for the film – and it probably won't surprise you that both had ballet experience. They're so delicate that they seem born to wear tutus and slippers.

But you might be surprised at who else in Hollywood started their dramatic careers in ballet. We've compiled a list of those actors and actresses who have been en pointe, abandoned the barre for time travel, machine guns, martial arts, and Johnny Depp.

Zoe Saldana

Saldana is making a name for herself as the action chick of our decade. She's kicked butt and taken names in "Star Trek," "Avatar," "The Losers," and the upcoming "Colombiana." But she began her theatrical career in ballet and dance (as evidenced by her breakout role in "Center Stage"), and has fond memories of pounding and twirling across the floor. "That was the beginning of a beautiful f**king romance," she has said. "That was my Xanax, let me tell you ... it put all my demons in order." And it gave her a particular grace while shooting machine guns, or springing along Pandora, wouldn't you agree?

Summer Glau

Glau is another action heroine who began her career as a delicate ballerina before becoming Joss Whedon's muse. She transitioned to acting after suffering an injury, and though she got her big break playing a ballet dancer on "Angel," she gained geek fame as the vicious dervish named River Tam on "Firefly." Not counting a tiny role in the teen comedy "Sleepover," she made her big-screen debut in Whedon's vastly underrated "Serenity" in 2005. "I grew up being a ballet dancer, so I'm very comfortable doing physical roles," she told The Onion A.V. Club. It shows.

Mia Wasikowska

Wasikowska may be best known for traveling down the rabbit hole in "Alice in Wonderland," but she began her career pursuing the fairy tales of "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker." She trained as a ballerina until she was 15, when she became disillusioned with the grueling regimen. "It became so much about physical perfection that it kind of beats you down and grates on your self-esteem," she told The Sunday London Times. "What I liked most about [films] was that, unlike ballet, they were about imperfection and all the things that we, as human beings, do wrong." Considering all the critical acclaim she's been garnering for her roles in HBO's "In Treatment," "Alice," and "The Kids Are All Right," it seems she made the right choice.

Lyndsy Fonesca

Best known for her roles in "Kick-Ass" and "Hot Tub Time Machine," Fonesca started her career as a ballet dancer. She was the IMTA's runner-up for "Young Miss Dancer of the Year" where she was discovered by her agent. We're not entirely sure why she gave up dance – though she reportedly still performs to relax – but it probably has a lot to do with acting being a lot less punishing on your body. Plus you're never a candidate for cool scripts like "The Hunger Games" if you're the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Zhang Ziyi

It says something about the rigor of dance that so many actresses transition so casually from leotards to kicking butt onscreen. Ziyi has thrilled us with her elegant martial arts in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Hero," "House of Flying Daggers" and "Rush Hour 2." But she's actually not even trained in martial arts, she's trained in dance thanks to the Beijing Dance Academy. She quit out of disinterest: "I realized I didn't have much of a future in dancing, and I didn't know if I liked it that much. It's really hard, and there's not that much of a market for dancers," she told Interview. Luckily, there's always a market for a girl who can wield a sword.

Lea Thompson

Before she won male hearts in the '80s as Marty McFly's sexy mom, Thompson was a very accomplished ballerina. She won scholarships to multiple ballet schools, and danced with multiple companies, including The American Ballet Theatre. She danced in 45 ballets with the ABT, and hoped to dance alongside its star, the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov. Her dream was crushed when he told her she was "a beautiful dancer, but too stocky." She left shortly after, and decided to become an actress. Millions of men are thankful, but do you think Baryshnikov ever watched "Red Dawn" and felt a little pang of guilt?

Penelope Cruz

Cruz got a lot of press for her searing and sexy dance in "Nine," a routine that left her battered, bruised, and crying during filming. But Cruz has endured the assault of dance before, as she was originally a ballerina. She studied classical ballet for nine years (coincidence?) at Spain's National Conservatory, but abandoned her arabesques for a talent agency audition. She hasn't looked back. Why would you when you've got an Oscar on your mantelpiece, and a guy like Javier Bardem?

Emilie de Ravin

The lovely de Ravin gained the spotlight as the perpetually terrified teenage mother Claire on "Lost," but she was once consumed with battements and changements as a student in the Australian Ballet School. The ABS is an incredibly selective and difficult school, so it's obvious de Ravin possessed a lot of talent and determination to get in. But after taking a week long acting course, the "Remember Me" star dropped out of dance, and never looked back. She admitted to Collider that she "missed it" but was much happier as an actress. Maybe it all had something to do with those "Lost" numbers, and baby Aaron, and ....

Neve Campbell

The brooding beauty of the "Scream" saga began as an eager and exhausted student at the National Ballet School of Canada. She quit only because of her accumulating injuries and ruined joints. Though she has enjoyed a lot of onscreen success and become a horror icon, dance seems to be what has always defined her. She put her passion onscreen by working with Robert Altman to develop and star in "The Company."

Unlike the other stars on our list, Campbell seems to have suffered the most from a life spent en pointe. "I have got arthritis in my neck and my hips," she once reported. :I have had surgery on my feet. I have had snapping hip syndrome, tendonitis, shin splints, bursitis. I have had almost every injury imaginable."

Jamie Bell

Remember, ballet isn't just a female pursuit. Men have been dancing for centuries, though are often derided or mocked for their profession. It's not macho for boys to dream of dancing the lead in "The Nutcracker." But Bell might beg to differ. He was born into a family of ballerinas, and he used to accompany his sister to her lessons. He stood outside practicing until invited to come in and participate.

Yes, it is the plot of "Billy Elliot!" But he lived it before he played it. "The other boys called me 'poof', 'ballerina boy'… It gave me more determination to prove it wasn't just for girls." Perhaps Bell's success might encourage other boys to take up the barre, especially since he's gone on to action roles such as "King Kong," "Flags of Our Fathers," and "Defiance."

Alexander Godunov

Godunov may be last on the list, but he's certainly not the least. The ruggedly handsome Russian rose to fame thanks to his imposing terrorist in "Die Hard," but he turned to acting only after his ballet career came to a tragic end. Godunov danced with the exclusive and legendary Bolshoi Ballet in the Soviet Union before defecting to the U.S. and joining American Ballet Theatre. He'd soon move to Hollywood, where he made memorable appearances in "Witness," "The Money Pit," and, of course, "Die Hard," before tragically passing away in 1995.

Fox Searchlight

Imagine you're the proud father of a popular, young Hollywood actress and you're at the premiere of her latest film, only to realize there's a sex scene coming up involving the apple of your eye. Now that's messed up!

Luckily for her father, Mila Kunis who has a lesbian love scene in the new psychological thriller "Black Swan," agrees. "My dad's not allowed to watch these movies, you have to understand. He's certainly banned. My dad walked away in the middle of the film," she told MTV News. "I asked him to."

Check out MTV News for video of Kunis explaining why she didn't hesitate to get into bed with co-star Natalie Portman.

Fox Searchlight

When Oscar voters fill out their ballots early next year, will they be thinking about those stellar performances from waaaay back in spring and summer? Yeah, probably not.

They'll have who's hot right NOW on their minds –- and why should we be any different? This is the season for A-listers to do things: get serious and reach for that Oscar or entertain the masses with a nice big holiday hit. Or in the case of one star (we're looking at you, The Rock), finally return to the genre they belong.

Here's a look at nine eclectic performances -- from awards bait to breakout stars in blockbusters -- we're most excited for over the next two months.

9. Elle Fanning, 'Somewhere'

Focus

Release Date: Dec. 22

FTW: Dakota's 12-year-old sister stars as Cleo in Sofia Coppola's first project since "Marie Antoinette." The film tells the story of a hard-living actor (Stephen Dorff) who is forced to rethink his priorities after his 11-year-old daughter suddenly enters his life. Think "Game Plan," only classy.

Looks as though Elle, who has played Dakota's younger sibling twice, first in "I Am Sam" and then again in the miniseries "Taken," will finally get her chance to become more than just "Dakota’s little sister." We're excited to catch her in this before next summer’s "Super 8" makes her a household name.

8. Dwayne Johnson, 'Faster'

Release Date: Nov. 24

FTW: When Dwayne Johnson burst onto the screen in the opening of 2001's "The Mummy Returns," it seemed like we had a worthy successor to the aging icons of action movies' past. But then "The Game Plan" happened. And "Witch Mountain." And "Tooth Fairy."

It looks like there's still a chance that hardcore fans will once again enjoy the smell of what The Rock is cookin' when Johnson's ex-con avenges his brother's death in this Thanksgiving release. Early indications look like "Faster" will speed past "The Expendables" to become the rare testosterone-fueled ride with an emotional center.

7. Gwyneth Paltrow – 'Country Strong'

Sony

Release Date: Dec. 22

FTW: Although Paltrow earned herself fanboy cred as Pepper Potts in "Iron Man" and its sequel, she's been focusing more on her website and cookbook of late. As Kelly Canter, a fallen singer who's taken out of rehab by her husband in hopes of resurrecting her career, Paltrow returns to form, allowing her to once again show off the acting chops that won her an Oscar for "Shakespeare in Love."

Between Paltrow doing her own singing in the film and a heartfelt performance as a former star aiming to make a comeback (a la "Crazy Heart"), we're marking our calendars for this film's year-end release.

6. Javier Bardem, 'Biutiful'

Release Date: Dec. 29

FTW: The man who redefined killing is about to do the same for spirituality in "Babel" director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's tale of a father rushing to put his chaotic life in order before it's too late.

Bardem stars as Uxbal in a Spanish-language drama set in the back streets of Barcelona. From the looks of the trailer, the film offers up another heavy role for the "No Country for Old Men" Oscar winner, serving him up at his brooding, intense best in a role that balances spiritual and everyday life. Amen to that!

5. Christina Aguilera – 'Burlesque'

Weinstein Co.

Release Date: Nov. 24

FTW: Aguilera stars in her first feature as a small-town girl who ventures to L.A. and finds her place in a burlesque club run by a former dancer (Cher).

Either it's fabulous over-the-top excess or "Showgirls"-esque camp… Xtina fans and gay men across the world won't care. The film also has a small dose of fanboy credibility: it's directed by Steven Antin, whom every boy was jealous of when he played Troy Perkins, boyfriend of Keri Green, in "The Goonies" ("ANDY! You Goonie!!")

4. Colin Firth, 'The King’s Speech'

Release Date: Nov. 26

FTW: Firth stars in the story of King George VI of Britain, his impromptu ascension to the throne and the speech therapist that helped him become worthy of it. Mrs. Tim Burton Helena Bonham Carter reunites with her "Sweeney Todd" co-star Timothy Spall and her "Harry Potter" co-star Michael Gambon as Queen Elizabeth to Firth's King.

The Ladies love Colin from "Pride and Prejudice" and "Bridget Jones’ Diary." Men enjoy Firth from "Apartment Zero" and kids like "Nanny McPhee" -- we love him for all of the above and this performance will be one to watch -- one that could even nab him an Academy Award.

3. Garrett Hedlund, 'TRON: Legacy'

Disney

Release Date: Dec. 17

FTW: "Tron: Legacy" may boast groundbreaking effects, state-of-the-art 3-D visuals and Jeff Bridges in not one but two roles, but we have our eyes on the character of 27-year-old Sam Flynn.

As the son of Encom video game pioneer Kevin Flynn, Garrett Hedlund's (who also appears in "Country Strong") performance could have gone the way of Hayden Christensen's Anakin. Instead, we get what appears to be an extremely layered performance of a boy reuniting with his long-lost father… and one that will likely be the core of the entire film.

2. Natalie Portman – 'Black Swan'

Release Date: Dec. 3

FTW: Natalie Portman takes the starring role in Darren Aronofsky's follow-up to "The Wrestler." Sure… we know what you're thinking: Lesbian scene with Mila Kunis. But there's much more to this unique vision of the dark side of ballet than that much-talked-about sequence.

"Black Swan" delves inside the world of professional ballet, following Portman's character as she struggles to the top and her fight against it consuming her mind. Yeah. We know. You're still thinking about that lesbian scene with Mila Kunis.

1. James Franco, '127 Hours'

Fox Searchlight

Release Date: Nov. 5

FTW: He went from respected actor… to a daytime soap opera… to making videos for Funny or Die. Now, the man who strutted his dramatic stuff in "Milk" is back in serious-actor-mode for his role as Aron Ralston in another time-based title from red-hot "Slumdog Millionaire" director Danny Boyle.

Spidey's pal commands the screen as a mountain climber who becomes trapped while exploring the canyons of Utah all by his lonesome. Franco's tour de force is sure to give way to plenty of post-screening discussion that won't likely be over come Oscar time. Norman Osborn would be proud.