So, for those unfamiliar, here’s a quick rundown of the films jousting for the title of Best Picture. Like the Highlander, there can be only one.

The Artist

The first entry here is by far the most artsy, and perhaps least accessible by wide audiences. It’s a French film directed by Michel Hazanavicius, starring Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo. I’m actively rooting against this film just so I don’t have to type those names throughout March if it wins. The film follows a male film star in the twilight of his career and a female star on the upswing. So it’s kind of like A Star Is Born, which is another film our readers probably haven’t seen.

Anyway, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that the film is in black and white. Oh. And it’s largely silent. Content and merit aside, I could see the Academy going for this guy solely to show how damn sophisticated they are.

The Descendants

While it hasn’t made a splash at the box office (many nominees fail to), this Alexander Payne (Election, About Schmidt, Sideways) film has seemed to emerge as “the Oscar shoe-in that the masses are getting on board with.” It stars George Clooney as a laissez faire dad who has to get in touch with his kids in Hawaii after their mother suffers a boating injury and falls into a coma. Like much of Payne’s fare, this film is purported to be drier than a cracker, but the film has managed to nab other nods for both Clooney and Payne, so the powers that be are digging it.

Also, the film has Matthew Lillard in it, which I thought would preclude it from being nominated, but apparently not.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Jonathan Safran Foer wrote this well-received novel in 2005, focusing on one boy’s journey to make sense of his father’s death in the September 11th attacks. The source material’s reception wasn’t as warm as Foer’s previous effort, Everything Is Illuminated, but all the problems with the can be offset by the fact that this film has Tom f*cking Hanks, so the critics can go to hell.

This movie has been divisive, with many critics railing it for its heavy reliance on saccharine subject matter (“Remember 9/11? That sucked!”) and the performance of child star Thomas Horn, who they found to be unlikeable. It sucks to go on a journey with an unlikeable person.

There’s no word yet on casting the ill-fated wrestler David Schultz, but he does strike a remarkable resemblance to John C. Reilly. If I thought it were safe to put he and Carell in a film together without it devolving into silly voices, I’d say he’s perfect for the part. But alas. Just get the Rock. (Variety)

Cast: Brad Pitt, Robin Wright, Jonah Hill

Synopsis: The story of Oakland A’s general manager Billy Beane’s successful attempt to put together a baseball club on a budget by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.

Release Date: September 23, 2011

The trailer does an abrupt heel-turn, going from slapstick to Friday Night Lights-style inspiration. So when you watch this trailer, start by giggling incessantly, but by the end, you’ll have a thousand-yard stare and a solitary tear running down your face. At least I did.

The film looks like it has all the makings of a sports underdog story. There is laughter, tears, guys being chummy, chairs being thrown, and a slow-motion home run hit. Pitt handles all of these things well, except the homer. He leaves that to the guys with less attractive features.

It’s time once agin to gather round the computin’ box and gather some freshly-branded casting news. YAWWWWW!!!!

FAST FIVE – will be gaining one Ludacris and one The Rock according to Twitter all-star Tyrese Gibson. “Major shouts to Vin Diesel Paul Walker, & Dewayne [sic] “Rock” Johnson!! “Fast & Furious Five” Let’s get em again!!” Yes. He misspelled The Rock’s name but please keep in mind, he typed this with his ab muscles. Impressed, now? (Collider)

RISE OF THE APES – has cast Brian Cox to play a villianous dean general Robert McKee owner of a primate research facility. When reached for comment, James Cromwell said, "Aw, dammit." (/Film)

MONEYBALL – "Parks and Recreation" shoeshine man, Chris Pratt, will spend his hiatus from the show portraying a catcher whose hurty elbow leads him to become a batting phenom. Just like Rookie Of the Year (note: nothing like Rookie Of the Year.) (Collider)