The nominees for Best Supporting actress include last year’s winner (Penelope Cruz), two women from “Up in the Air” (Vera Farminga and Anna Kendrick), and Maggie Gyllenhaal. But it’s Mo’Nique’s performance as an abusive mother in “Precious” which has critics buzzing and is Marla Seidell’s pick to win.

Before the nominees were announced, Adam Spunberg had a good idea what would be snubbed. Writing on Monday evening, Spunberg said that Viggo Mortensen and Zooey Deschanel put in just a handful of first-class performances that the Academy overlooked.

In these trying times, “Up in the Air” is a perfect film for this era and deserves multiple Oscars, Mallory Pickard writes. It’s the favorite for Best Adapted Screenplay, and may get recognition for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director.

Rob Marshall’s latest film musical “Nine” offers a slew of potential acting nominations with past Oscar winners Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cottilard, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Sophia Loren. But while the film is fun and entertaining, it falls short of delivering the “wow” factor, writes Kit Bowen.

Tom Ford’s “A Single Man” is a gem, writes Kit Bowen. Given an opportunity to showcase his talents, Colin Firth gives a memorable performance as a lonely gay college professor. Julianne Moore is deserving of her first Oscar, Bowen says, while Ford’s directorial debut is hard to top.

Brad Pitt may headline “Inglourious Basterds,” but the Quentin Tarantino flick has fantastic performances from Diane Kruger and Melanie Laurent. Both women should get Oscar consideration, says Mallory Pickard, for their portrayals of femme fatales in Nazi Germany.