The 83rd Academy Award Nominations - Picks and Reactions

The nominees for this year’s Academy Awards were announced this morning. Hearts were spirited or broken, producers pleased or pissed… and now four weeks into 2011, we may finally begin to close the door on 2010.

Here’s a rundown of the nominees, as well as some off the cuff reactions and quick picks (which I reserve the right to change until the week… the day… the hour… the minute before the Oscars go live...)

The Social Network (2010)

The Social Network is one of those rare films that excel on every level – the acting, the writing, the directing, the scoring… the purpose and the impact. It’s a film that defines the interconnectivity of a generation, presented to us via emulative characters and authoritative social conceits. It’s The Breakfast Club (1985) minus the charactures and tenderness, those things replaced by cutthroat aspiration and a Trent Reznor synth set.