When it comes to the mix of movies being offered up, not much has changed since we previewed Summer 2010 back in September 2009. The season is still packed with sequels, remakes, comic book adaptations, and 3-D.

Meaning, fans of Action/Adventure movies (11), Comedies (8), and Chick Flicks (8) are in luck, as are parents looking for a way to entertain the kids (10). But the pickings are slim for horror fans (3) and those looking for some summer drama (6) or thrilling intrigue (5). Check 'em all out below.

MAY 7TH

Iron Man 2

Billionaire inventor Tony Stark is back (with an expanded set of Hotties) to face new enemies, Whiplash and Justin Hammer.

Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Gwenyth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Mickey Rourke

Babies

A look at the first year of life for four infants from around the world (Mongolia, Namibia, U.S., Japan). Talk about the anti-Iron Man.

[Future] Stars?: Bayar, Hattie, Mari, Ponijao

Mother & Child

The intersecting tale of three women, whose lives have all been changed by adoption. Does the popcorn come with Kleenex?

Stars: Naomi Watts, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Annette Bening

MAY 14TH

Robin Hood

Ridley Scott takes his Gladiator back (or is it ahead?) to 13th-century England, where the infamous archer leads an uprising against the crown.

Stars: Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, William Hurt

Letters to Juliet

Surprisingly not a Mamma Mia! sequel, despite a meddling young Sophie and a letter that helps reunite aging lovers.

Stars: Amanda Seyfried, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Egan

Just Wright

Two hip-hop icons take on basketball and romantic comedy, with cameo assists from several NBA superstars.

Stars: Common, Queen Latifah, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis

MAY 21ST

Shrek Forever After

What if Shrek and Fiona never met? Thanks to Rumpelstiltskin and the promise of 3-D ticket sales, we're about to find out.

Stars: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz, Eddie Murphy, Antonio Banderas

MacGruber

Ex-special operative MacGruber is called back into action to take down his archenemy, Dieter Von Cunth, who's in possession of a nuclear warhead and bent on destroying Washington, D.C.

Stars: Will Forte, Ryan Phillippe, Kristen Wiig

MAY 27TH

Sex and the City 2

Now married to Big, Carrie faces temptation when she unexpectedly runs into Aidan while vacationing with the gals in Abu Dhabi.

Stars: Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Kristin Davis, Cynthia Nixon

May 28TH

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time

A prince and princess confront dark forces trying to safeguard an ancient dagger that reverses time and allows its possessor to rule the world.

Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley

Survival of the Dead

Which stands a better chance: The zombies on the remote Plum Island or this latest George Romero flick, which hits VOD a month before theaters?

Stars: Alan Van Sprang, Kenneth Welsh, Kathleen Munroe

JUNE 4TH

Killers

A suburban couple's life unravels when the husband's international super-spy past comes back to haunt them. Mr. & Mrs. Smith 2.0 without Jolie and Pitt?

Stars: Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck

Get Him to the Greek

A hapless intern has 3 days to get an uncooperative British rock star from London to L.A. in this Forgetting Sarah Marshall spin-off.

Stars: Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Rose Byrne

Marmaduke

The mayhem-prone Great Dane moves from the comics to the big screen (and from Kansas to California) in this live-action-CGI hybrid.

Stars: Owen Wilson, Lee Pace, Judy Greer

Splice

Two scientist use human DNA to create a hybrid creature and ... well, when does anything like this ever go well in the movies?

Stars: Adrien Brody, Sarah Polley, Delphine Chaneac

Ondine

An Irish fisherman finds a mysterious woman in his nets and comes to believe he's caught a mermaid in this modern fairytale.

Stars: Colin Farrell, Alicja Bachleda, Alison Barry

JUNE 11TH

The A-Team

The former commando outfit is back and still fighting - a sort of modern-day Robin Hood team, for those who missed the '80s TV series.

Stars: Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Sharlto Copley

The Karate Kid

Also back from the '80s, but this time the bullied kid has landed in China, where he meets his mentor/ maintenance man (aka secret kung fu master).

Stars: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji Henson

JUNE 18TH

Toy Story 3

Andy's off to college and Buzz, Woody, and the rest of his toy collection must escape from a daycare of toy-destroying kids, rather than the solitary Sid.

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, John Ratzenberger, Joan Cusack

Jonah Hex

The comic book antihero and Confederate bounty hunter with the scarred face tries to stop a villain set on creating an army of the undead to liberate the South.

Stars: Josh Brolin, Megan Fox, John Malkovich

I Am Love

This cinematic look at how passion, liberation, and loss play out for a wealthy textile family in Milan has been a darling of film festivals.

Stars: Tilda Swinton, Flavio Parenti, Edoardo Gabbriellini

Cyrus

A downtrodden divorcee meets the woman of this dreams only to become locked in a battle of wits with her possessive, and old-enough-to-know-better, son.

Stars: John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, Jonah Hill

JUNE 23RD

Knight and Day

Given the number of writer and title changes and the bull rampage that suspended filming, we're wondering if this movie will be as "unlucky in love" as Diaz's character?

Stars: Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Peter Sarsgaard

JUNE 25TH

Grown Ups

Friends and former teammates reunite to honor their late basketball coach - think The Big Chill but with fart jokes and pratfalls.

Stars: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade

JUNE 30TH

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

The third installment of the vampire romance is sure to draw the fans - and based on the trailer, David Slade's take on Forks might just live up to the hype.

Stars: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

JULY 1ST

The Last Airbender

Anticipation for M. Night Shyamalan's big-screen version of the popular Nickelodeon TV series has been running high since the trailer debuted during the Super Bowl.

Stars: Noah Ringer, Dev Patel, Nicola Peltz

JULY 9TH

Despicable Me

Determined to steal the moon, the world's second-greatest villain meets his match in three little orphans. Will a solid year's worth of promotion pay off at the box office, or for the kiddos?

Stars: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Jason Segel, Russell Brand

Predators

When the script for this sequel to Predator was leaked and reviewed it was deemed "awesome" and "worthy of the original." We'll see.

Stars: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga

The Kids Are All Right

The teenage children of a lesbian couple seek out their biological father in this drama, not to be confused with the The Who rockumentary.

Stars: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska

JULY 14TH

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

In this live-action fantasy movie, a master sorcerer and his apprentice try to protect New York City from an evil magician.

Stars: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina

JULY 16TH

Inception

Secrets in Hollywood are scarce - just one of several reasons this Christopher Nolan sci-fi actioner about the "architecture of the mind" is highly anticipated.

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ellen Page

JULY 23RD

Salt

Jolie heats up the Cold War in this tale of a CIA officer accused of spying for the Russians. Adding to the intrigue? That her role was originally designed for Tom Cruise.

Stars: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Ramona and Beezus

The beloved first book in the Beverly Cleary series about the spirited third-grader, Ramona Quimby, and her misadventures finally hits the big screen.

Stars: Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett

JULY 30TH

Get Low

Loosely based on the story of a 1930's Tennessee hermit who throws his own funeral party while still alive, this movie is getting high critic ratings.

Stars: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray

Dinner for Schmucks

Given the cast, it's no surprise that misadventures follow when a rising executive brings a blundering IRS agent to a monthly gathering hosted by his boss.

Stars: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Bruce Greenwood

Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

What does it take for these two species to call off their age-old battle? Apparently a rogue cat spy with a diabolical plan for world domination. And 3-D ticket sales.

Stars: Alec Baldwin, Bette Midler, Chris O'Donnell, Michael Duncan

AUGUST 6TH

Twelve

Based on the Nick McDonell novel, a privileged high school dropout-turned-drug dealer deals with his cousin's brutal murder.

Stars: Chace Crawford, Emma Roberts, Kiefer Sutherland, 50 Cent

The Other Guys

A bumbling NYC detective and his partner unwisely decide to step out from behind their desk jobs and into the shoes of the top cops they idolize in this action-comedy.

Stars: Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson

Step Up 3-D

Now a trilogy, the dance series takes on a new city - and dimension - in this "high-stakes showdown" among hip hop street dancers.

Stars: Sharni Vinson, Adam Sevani

AUGUST 13TH

Eat Pray Love

Elizabeth Gilbert's "search for everything across Italy, India, and Indonesia" hits the big screen after taking Oprah and countless book clubs by storm.

Stars: Julia Roberts, James Franco, Javier Bardem

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

A slacker/rock-star-wannabe meets the girl of his dreams, only to discover that he must battle her seven evil exes, who all have superpowers.

Stars: Michael Cera, Mary Winstead, Jason Schwartzman

The Expendables

Writer-director Stallone's action movie is drawing as much attention for its use of physical stunts as for its veritable who's who of '80s and '90s action heroes, which includes Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis.

Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke

AUGUST 20TH

Takers

Only one thing stands between a group of bank robbers and their swan song $20-million bounty - a hardened detective determined to crack the case.

Stars: Matt Dillon, Hayden Christensen, Idris Elba, Chris Brown, Zoe Saldana

Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang

The strict and snaggle-toothed nanny returns with five new lessons, this time to help a harried farm mother whose husband is off fighting in WW2. We hope the magic's still there.

Stars: Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes, Ewan McGregor

The Switch

In the second artificial-insemination comedy of the year (what's up with that?), a woman finds out her best friend substituted his sperm. At least it's no longer called The Baster.

Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum

Lottery Ticket

A young man in the projects must survive a three-day weekend after his greedy neighbors find out he's holding the $370-million ticket.

Stars: Lil' Bow Wow, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton

Piranha 3-D

There's blood in the water and Dreyfuss is back, but this time it's prehistoric piranhas keeping people on the beach. Yep, another remake courtesy of the 3-D feeding frenzy.

Stars: Elisabeth Shue, Richard Dreyfuss, Jessica Szohr

AUGUST 27TH

Happythankyou moreplease

Can this indie-ensemble-relationship-comedy about a gang of 20-something-New-Yorkers win over audiences' hearts in greater numbers than critics?

Stars: Malin Akerman, Tony Hale, Zoe Kazan

Going the Distance

In this late entry in the summer rom-com releases, a California-based journalism student and her New York boyfriend try to keep their bi-coastal romance alive.

Stars: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long, Charlie Day

The Last Exorcism

Horror favorite Eli Roth is back with the tale of a less-than-genuine reverend who invites a film crew to document his last fraudulent days. The Exorcist meets Paranormal Activity?

Stars: Patrick Fabian, Ashley Bell

Ready to get your perception of the world righteously frakked? This is comfortable territory for director Christopher Nolan, who toyed with the very notion of objective reality in Memento and The Prestige. His newest movie, Inception, sends corporate spy Leonardo DiCaprio into the endlessly mutable world of people's dreams. But Nolan isn't alone in this field - the mischievous Japanese animator Satoshi Kon has frequently flung his characters into the dreams and memories of others, no more enthusiastically than in the furiously surreal R-rated Paprika.

If you're planning to see: Inception (2010)

Ever get the feeling the movie industry is being subsidized by Starbucks? Stealthy vampires, body-snatching pod-people, blade-fingered psycho killers - the message from your multiplex is clear: You're better off staying up all night. Now, on top of that, modern technology is giving corporate spies - such as DiCaprio's Dom Cobb and his support team that includes Ellen Page and Joseph Gordon-Levitt - the power to enter dreams, steal secrets, and plant manipulative ideas. We don't know about you, but to us this idea is more frightening than Freddy Krueger ever could be.

Follow it up with: Paprika (2007)

If the idea of people stealing into your dreams and planting ideas is unsettling, consider this: What if someone sinister got hold of that dream-raiding device and started mashing everyone's dreams with his own twisted obsessions, to the point where the lines between fiction and fact were totally blurred? That's the challenge faced by Dr. Atsuko Chiba and her dream persona, Paprika, in this simultaneously ominous and surprisingly joyous fantasy. There's no real gunplay here, but there is a murder mystery ... sort of. Warning: After this, geisha dolls might show up in your nightmares.

This summer's lineup included a mix of 50+ releases - more movies, we're guessing, than most fans were able to squeeze into the mix. If you missed them in theaters, which ones are worth adding to your DVD queue? Here are the Action/Adventure, Comedy, Thriller/Mystery, Romance/Chick Flick, and Kids/Family movies that ended up with a rating of 7 or higher on our scale.

ACTION/ADVENTURE

Iron Man 2

Our fears about clumsy action and so-so CGI were confirmed, but what we didn't expect was how darn funny this movie is. And *please* let's not forget the ridiculously plentiful eye candy. We're going to go right ahead and say it. Iron Man 2 is the rarest of sequels: better than the original.

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

SPVTW definitely lived up to its advance billing, especially if you're in the 25-and-under male-nerd demographic. For most anyone over the age of 30, we suspect the pop culture references (combined with excessive jump cuts) will lead to head scratching and general befuddlement. We haven't seen anything quite like it before, and can't wait for Edgar Wright's next movie, Them, set for a 2011 release.

COMEDY

Cyrus

We've already dislocated our shoulder patting ourselves on the back for predicting Cyrus to be the summer's best comedy, but it was a highly educated guess. Mix quality indie talent (the Duplasses) with an A-list cast (especially John C. Reilly) and it's hard to see how it couldn't have turned out well.

The Other Guys

Even a little better than our original prediction, thanks primarily to Mark Wahlberg matching Will Ferrell's funny and especially inspired cameos from Dwayne Johnson and Samuel L. Jackson. Though not quite up to Talladega Nights or the underrated Step Brothers, Guys still qualifies as the funniest mainstream comedy we've seen this summer.

Get Him to the Greek

Narrowly beat our forecast, thanks to an even-better-than-expected Brand and a scene-stealing P. Diddy. Oh, and lots of projectile vomiting! (Sorry, spoiler.) It's definitely not as good as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, but for those in need of raunchy, R-rated comedy, it'll do. And like FSM, we're looking forward to repeated viewings on premium cable later this year.

THILLER/MYSTERY

Inception

No doubt Inception will be Nolan's fifth movie in the IMDb Top 250. For us - even with ridiculously high expectations - Inception mostly delivered. It looks beautiful, the special effects are dream-worthy, and it grabbed us from the beginning and didn’t let go. That said, Inception is the thriller to beat this year.

Salt

Our heads hurt after seeing Inception, so Salt was a welcome relief: 90 minutes of preposterous, fun entertainment that doesn't take itself too seriously. And there's lots and lots of Angelina Jolie, who doesn't look even vaguely like a typical mother of six. It's the quintessential summer popcorn flick and so far the surprise hit of the season.

The Last Exorcism

Wow, were we wrong on this one. Roughly equal parts The Exorcist, The Blair Witch Project, and Paranormal Activity, this highly entertaining micro-budget ($1.8M) horror/thriller is almost as funny as it is scary. Easily the most pleasant surprise of the whole summer.

ROMANCE/CHICK FLICK

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

In a summer of mostly dismal chick flicks, thank god David Slade didn't disappoint. Stephenie Meyer fans finally got the blockbuster they deserved - and vampire movie fans finally got a Twilight with some bite. Let's hope it's carried over to Breaking Dawn.

The Switch

While some critics really hated on this movie, it's the best rom-com we've seen all year. That is faint praise, indeed, but the Bateman-Aniston chemistry works, and we'll get to see it again next summer with the July 29, 2011 release of the comedy Horrible Bosses.

KIDS/FAMILY

Toy Story 3

No surprises here, except how deeply plastic playthings can move us. Yeah, we admit it. We cried. Near the very top of the Pixar pack (though not quite as good as Ratatouille). Plus the Wii game is really fun, too.

Despicable Me

This looked good on paper and it was. No, it's not Toy Story 3 (we still get a little misty-eyed when we think of that pic's ending), but some kids we know actually preferred Despicable Me. Chalk one up for original ideas. We suspect we'll see Gru, Vector, and Dr. Nefario in theaters again someday fairly soon.

Ramona and Beezus

We confess. We did not see Ramona and Beezus. But poker night was an 8, so that's what we're giving this apparently sweet and wholesome adaptation of Beverly Cleary's classic series of kids' books. The critic reviews generally concur.

Nanny McPhee Returns

Like British humor, some people get Nanny McPhee, some people don't. Put us in the former camp. This is smart, sophisticated, and yes, old-fashioned entertainment that you will love. Or hate.

9/29/10 - Just as the baseball playoff teams are coming into clear view, so are the contending movies for Best Picture. The expanded Academy Awards category means room again this year for 10 nominees, making it simultaneously easier and harder to narrow the field. Here are our predictions for the 10 movies that will get nominated - ordered by likelihood of winning - followed by five flicks with BP buzz we don't think have a chance.

1. True Grit

Release Date: 12/25/2010

Directed by: Joel Coen, Ethan Coen

Stars: Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin

Adaptation of the Charles Portis novel, and remake of the 1969 movie that won John Wayne a Best Actor Oscar, about a teenage girl who enlists the aid of a boozy, trigger-happy lawman to hunt down her father's killer before a Texas Ranger finds him first.

Why It's a Contender: The movie doesn't release until Christmas. No one has seen it. Yet, we're picking it as the favorite to win Best Picture with its Oscar-winning combination of directors (The Coen Brothers) and cast (Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon). Plus, it will be the most recent memory for Academy members before they cast their votes.

2. The King's Speech

Release Date: 11/24/2010

Directed by: Tom Hooper

Stars: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter

Based on the true story of King George VI - the current Queen Elizabeth's father - who overcame a terrible stammer with the help of an eccentric speech therapist, the Australian-born Lionel Logue, and his daughter.

Why It's a Contender: It recently won top prize at Toronto International Film Festival, which in recent years has become Best Picture spotter (Precious, Slumdog Millionaire). Add in that the movie involves royal historical figures and disabilities, both of which are things the Academy loves, and that early critic reviews are nearly universally positive. Clearly, this is True Grit's

3. Inception

Release Date: 7/16/2010

Directed by: Christopher Nolan

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ellen Page

Science fiction heist movie "from the director of The Dark Knight" about a thief who extracts information from the subconscious mind of his victims while they dream. First pitched to Warner Brothers in 2001, the pic finally made it to the big screen this summer and was a smashing critical and box-office success.

Why It's a Contender: Someday Christopher Nolan will win Best Director and one of his movies will win Best Picture. Inception is his best shot yet, a thinking-person's thriller with wide appeal, it currently stands #4 on the IMDb Top 250 behind only The Shawshank Redemption, The Godfather, and The Godfather: Part II.

4. The Fighter

Release Date: 12/10/2010

Directed by: David O. Russell

Stars: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Mark Wahlberg

Drama/biopic based on the story of professional boxer "Irish" Micky Ward, a blue-collar athlete who overcame hardship - not to mention a lack of athletic ability - to very nearly reach the very top of the boxing world. (He never won any of the "Big Four" world titles.)

Why It's a Contender: Like True Grit, no one has seen The Fighter but it looks like a contender. David O. Russell has Best Picture-making talent, and he's got one of the strongest casts of any pic this year with Amy Adams (two Best Supporting Actress nominations), Christian Bale (who again went on a Machinist-style weight-loss plan), and the underrated Mark Wahlberg (who trained to years for the role, and it shows).

5. 127 Hours

Release Date: 11/5/2010

Directed by: Danny Boyle

Stars: James Franco, Amber Tamblyn, Kate Mara

Yet another "based on a true story" movie based on what happened to Aron Ralston, an American mountain climber who amputated his own arm to free himself after being trapped by a boulder in a Utah canyon for nearly five days in May 2003.

Why It's a Contender: Director Danny Boyle and his movie Slumdog Millionaire both won Oscars just two years ago, so it would require 127 Hours to be extra-special for another Boyle movie to take top honors so soon. For those who saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival, it's exactly that.

6. The Social Network

Release Date: 10/1/2010

Directed by: David Fincher

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Rashida Jones

Also known as "The Facebook Movie," the David Fincher-directed pic is based on Ben Mezrich's much-maligned book about Facebook's founding, The Accidental Billionaires.

Why It's a Contender: While it doesn't officially open until Friday, the movie was screened at the New York Film Festival and critics are gaga over it. Fincher makes good movies that the Academy has started taking note of - it also doesn't hurt that The Social Network is so "of the moment."

7. Somewhere

Release Date: 12/22/2010

Directed by: Sophia Coppola

Stars: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning, Chris Pontius

Drama about a bad-boy actor holed up at the Chateau Marmont who's forced to reexamine his life of excess when he gets an unexpected visit from his 11-year-old daughter.

Why It's a Contender: Early reviews for this one compare it closely to Coppola's Lost in Translation, a movie that had serious Best Picture buzz in 2003 until it ran into the Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King buzzsaw.

8. Hereafter

Release Date: 10/22/2010

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Matt Damon, Cécile de France, Bryce Dallas Howard

Clint Eastwood-directed supernatural thriller is one of those intertwining storylines pics, this time with three people affected by death in different ways - Matt Damon is a factory worker and psychic, Cecile de France is a French television journalist, a young Frankie McLaren as an English boy - and how their destinies converge.

Why It's a Contender: Critics got their first look at Hereafter at the Toronto Film Festival a few days ago, and in spite of a review embargo, a few tweets leaked out indicating it kind of sucked. But don't count this pic out quite yet. It's got heavily pedigreed players (Eastwood, Damon) and deals with heavy topics like death and the afterlife.

9. Toy Story 3

Release Date: 12/25/2010

Directed by: Lee Unkrich

Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack

In development for 11 years, the sequel to Toy Story and Toy Story 2 brought Woody, Buzz, and the and the rest of the toys back together, only to have them dumped off at a day care center when Andy leaves for college.

Why It's a Contender: Funny, charming, and surprisingly moving (we were in tears), Toy Story 3 is arguably the best Pixar pic yet. Critics liked it as much as movie fans, and while it's definitely not the Academy's normal cup of tea, it's got a legitimate shot at winning.

10. Secretariat

Release Date: 10/8/2010

Directed by: Randall Wallace

Stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Scott Glenn

A Disneyfied take on the true story of Secretariat - the winner of the Triple Crown in 1973 and the first horse to do so in 25 years. Adding to the drama are underdog (read: female) owner Penny Chenery and an eccentric trainer, Lucien Laurin.

Why It's a Contender: At first glance this looks like intolerable schlock. But what we're hearing from people who've seen the movie is that it's pretty darned good and even BP-worthy. Plus it's got the horse factor, which helped get Seabiscuit a Best Picture nomination in 2003.

5 WHERE WE JUST DON'T SEE IT

Love and Other Drugs

Anne Hathaway is getting kudos for her performance but, at its core, this movie is a cute rom-com - not your standard Best Picture material.

Black Swan

If a Darren Aronofsky movie were ever going to win Best Picture, it would've been 2008's The Wrestler. It didn't even get nominated. From early reviews, Black Swan is far less accessible.

Another Year

Mike Leigh has had several Oscar nominations but no wins for any of his movies. We expect it to stay that way in 2010.

Never Let Me Go

On paper this looks like a sure thing, being based on a Kazuo Ishiguro novel, much like 1993-nominee Remains of the Day. In reality, it's been in release for a while and doesn't seem to connect with audiences.

Winter's Bone

In spite of great reviews, a no-name director, no-name cast, and a June release date add up to three strikes for this drama.

This morning, the nominees for the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards were announced by Josh Duhamel, Katie Holmes, and Blair Underwood. The awards ceremony will be broadcast live on NBC at 8:00 PM ET on Sunday, January 16, 2011. Rickey Gervais will again host the event.

BEST PICTURE - DRAMA

- Black Swan

- The Fighter

- Inception

- The King's Speech

- The Social Network

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

- Halle Berry, Frankie and Alice

- Nicole Kidman, Rabbit Hole

- Jennifer Lawrence, Winter's Bone

- Natalie Portman, Black Swan

- Michelle Williams, Blue Valentine

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - DRAMA

- Jesse Eisenberg, The Social Network

- Colin Firth, The King's Speech

- James Franco, 127 Hours

- Ryan Gosling, Blue Valentine

- Mark Wahlberg, The Fighter

BEST MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

- Alice in Wonderland

- Burlesque

- The Kids Are All Right

- RED

- The Tourist

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

- Annette Bening, The Kids Are All Right

- Anne Hathaway, Love and Other Drugs

- Angelina Jolie, The Tourist

- Julianne Moore, The Kids Are All Right

- Emma Stone, Easy A

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE - MUSICAL OR COMEDY

- Johnny Depp, The Tourist

- Johnny Depp, Alice in Wonderland

- Paul Giamatti, Barney's Version

- Jake Gyllenhaal, Love and Other Drugs

- Kevin Spacey, Casino Jack

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

- Amy Adams, The Fighter

- Helena Bonham Carter, The King's Speech

- Mila Kunis, Black Swan

- Melissa Leo, The Fighter

- Jacki Weaver, Animal Kingdom

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

- Christian Bale, The Fighter

- Michael Douglas, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

- Andrew Garfield, The Social Network

- Jeremy Renner, The Town

- Geoffrey Rush, The King's Speech

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM

- Despicable Me

- How to Train Your Dragon

- The Illusionist

- Tangled

- Toy Story 3

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

- Biutiful (Mexico/Spain)

- The Concert (France)

- The Edge (Russia)

- I Am Love (Italy)

- In a Better World (Denmark)

BEST DIRECTOR - MOTION PICTURE

- Darren Aronofsky, Black Swan

- David Fincher, The Social Network

- Tom Hooper, The King's Speech

- Christopher Nolan, Inception

- David O. Russell, The Fighter

BEST SCREENPLAY - MOTION PICTURE

- Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, 127 Hours

- Christopher Nolan, Inception

- Stuart Blumberg, Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right

- David Seidler, The King's Speech

- Aaron Sorkin, The Social Network

Best ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE

- A.R. Rahman, 127 Hours

- Danny Elfman, Alice in Wonderland

- Hans Zimmer, Inception

- Alexandre Desplat, The King's Speech

- Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, The Social Network

BEST ORIGINAL SONG - MOTION PICTURE

- "Bound to You," Burlesque, Samuel Dixon, Christina Aguilera, Sia Furler

- "You Haven't Seen The Last of Me," Burlesque, Diane Warren

- "Coming Home," Country Strong, Bob DiPiero, Tom Douglas, Hillary Lindsey, Troy Verges

- "There's A Place For Us," The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Carrie Underwood, David Hodges, Hillary Lindsey

- "I See the Light," Tangled, Alan Menken, Glenn Slater

The past year was filled with blockbusters worthy of their marketing budgets as well as movies that missed the mark in seemingly every way possible. On New Year's Day, Richard Roeper looks back at the movie year that was in The Best & Worst of 2010. As a sneak preview, he gave us his top 10 picks. Tune in Saturday, January 1, at 10:30am ET / 7:30 am PT to find out which movies claimed the absolute bottom spots on his list.

10. Somewhere - Sofia Coppola returns to Lost in Translation territory with Somewhere, another tale about a movie star in a hotel dealing with some serious issues. Stephen Dorff gives the performance of his career as an A-lister who's lost his way, and Elle Fanning is utterly natural and convincing as his daughter, who's plunked down on his doorstep. Coppola has a relaxed, confident style that gives "Somewhere" a docu-drama feel. It starts as a tale of debauchery and becomes one of the best movies about family I've seen in recent years.

9. The King's Speech - Colin Firth's magnificent performance as King George VI is the centerpiece of The King's Speech. With its British pedigree and a number of showcase scenes for Firth and Geoffrey Rush, this is the kind of movie that has Academy members drooling - and not just because they're old. But that doesn't mean The King's Speech is stuffy or dull - not for one second. This is a lively, funny, surprisingly moving tale of the man who would be king but couldn't get through a sentence without stammering - and the middle-class teacher who helped him break through and became his best friend.

8. True Grit - Sacrilegious as it may sound, the Coen brothers' take on True Grit is a far superior movie to the 1969 edition that won John Wayne the Oscar. Jeff Bridges is a worthy successor to Wayne in iconic role of the drunken marshal Rooster Cogburn, and Matt Damon represents a serious upgrade from Glen Campbell as the Texas ranger named "LaBeef." Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld nearly steals the movie as Mattie, the 14-year-old girl who hires two lawmen to track down the cuss that killed her father. The Coen brothers transport us to the unforgiving wilderness of the Choctaw Nation just after the Civil War and give us a story that's harsh, violent and authentic. This is a great Western.

7. 127 Hours - I know a lot of you are shying away from 127 Hours because you think it's a movie about a guy who cuts his arm off to save his own life. But that's like saying It's a Wonderful Life is about a guy who gets drunk and wrecks his car. Danny Boyle's kinetic, thrilling, inspirational movie stars James Franco in a nomination-worthy performance as the thrill-seeking narcissist who comes to grips with his past while trapped with his arm pinned. The admittedly grotesque arm-cutting scene is obviously pivotal, but it takes up about 5 percent of the movie. You shouldn't deny yourself the opportunity to experience this unforgettably exciting and deeply moving movie.

6. Toy Story 3 - Like last year's instant animated classic Up, Pixar's Toy Story 3 gives us more heart and more insight than 95 percent of the live-action movies out there. It's a decade after the first two entries in the series, with Andy now about to go off to college, and the toys facing an uncertain future. What follows is a rousing, funny, thrilling adventure equally suited for kids who weren't even born when the first Toy Story came out, and adults who know Pixar's movies only become more impressive with repeated viewings. If you're not moved by the final scene, check your pulse.

5. The Town - Set in the Boston neighborhoods that director and star Ben Affleck knows so well, The Town is a gritty, savvy, thrilling movie that feels authentic even when the plot stretches credibility. Affleck gives one of the best performances of his career as Doug MacRay, the brains behind a four-man crew that hits armored cars and banks. Some of the most memorable scenes in The Town are the intense, multi-layered exchanges between two characters. But Affleck also knows how to stage some big-picture heist scenes. The Town is like a blue-collar version of Michael Mann's Heat, one of my all-time favorite movies. Affleck displays a sure hand behind the camera, and the cast is amazing.

4. The Kids Are All Right - The Kids Are All Right is a classic study of a 20-year romance, with all the highs and lows and in-betweens. This couple just happens to be lesbians. Annette Bening is an Oscar front-runner and Julianne Moore is just as excellent. They bicker, make love, fret about their kids, argue about work, and celebrate their love for one another in one beautifully rendered scene after another. Mark Ruffalo strikes just the right notes as the kids' sperm donor, a charming, self-pleased sort who creates all manner of havoc within the family dynamic. This is a richly satisfying movie with an Academy Award-level script and uniformly excellent performances.

3. The Social Network - From its opening scene featuring a brilliant undergrad digging himself deeper and deeper with a girlfriend, The Social Network is an electric, mesmerizing movie. This is the birth of Facebook, and it's the Citizen Kane of modern social media movies. Working from an Oscar-worthy script by Aaron Sorkin, the brilliant director David Fincher delivers one of his most straightforward and one of his best movies. Loosely based on true events, The Social Network hops back and forth between the genesis of Facebook at Harvard in 2003, and the court cases that pitted Facebook genius Mark Zuckerberg against his former classmates. This is the classic story of an outsider who achieves the American Dream through inspiration and dedication. It's also the definitive look at the way our world has been changed forever by a site that turns everyone into the star of their own personal movie.

2. The Fighter - Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Melissa Leo and in particular Christian Bale all deserve serious awards consideration for their work in David O. Russell's masterful movie, The Fighter. I haven't been this inspired by a boxing movie since the original Rocky. Wahlberg plays the hard-punching Micky Ward and Bale is mesmerizing as his older half-brother Dicky Ecklund, who's training Micky when he's not smoking crack and ruining his own life. Micky's torn between family loyalties and one last shot at the title before it's too late. Inspired by a true story, The Fighter is a working class tale of redemption with Shakespearean-level issues. What a magnificent movie.

1. Inception - Christopher Nolan's Inception is a movie for the ages. It's an incredibly rich, dense, multi-layered and beautifully rendered masterpiece. It is one of the most beautiful, complex, and challenging movies I've ever seen. Leonardo DiCaprio is front and center as Cobb, who has the ability to penetrate dreams. But it's a lot more complicated than that. On one level Inception plays like a standard thriller. You'll recognize elements of movies such as The Matrix and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but this is a truly original work of art. The special effects are jaw-dropping, the cinematography is gorgeous, the performances are uniformly excellent, the score is amazing. A century from now, movie lovers will be debating this great, great movie.

This morning, nominees for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards were announced by 2009 Supporting Actress winner Mo'Nique and Academy President Tom Sherak at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, California. James Franco and Anne Hathaway will host the awards show on Sunday, February 27, 2011. Here are the movies and people in the running for an Oscar. Let us know what you think of the nominations with a comment below.

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Colin Firth in The King's Speech
Jeff Bridges in True Grit
Javier Bardem in Biutiful
Jesse Eisenberg in The Social Network
James Franco in 127 Hours

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Christian Bale in The Fighter
John Hawkes in Winter's Bone
Jeremy Renner in The Town
Mark Ruffalo in The Kids Are All Right
Geoffrey Rush in The King's Speech

Performance by an actress in a leading role

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

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Amy Adams in The Fighter
Helena Bonham Carter in The King's Speech
Melissa Leo in The Fighter
Hailee Steinfeld in True Grit
Jacki Weaver in Animal Kingdom

Best animated feature film of the year

How to Train Your Dragon: Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois
The Illusionist: Sylvain Chomet
Toy Story 3: Lee Unkrich

Achievement in art direction

Alice in Wonderland — Production Direction: Robert Stromberg; Set Decoration: Karen O'Hara
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 — Production Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
Inception — Production Direction: Guy Hendrix Dyas; Set Decoration: Larry Dias and Doug Mowat
The King's Speech — Production Direction: Eve Stewart; Set Decoration: Judy Farr
True Grit — Production Direction: Jess Gonchor; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh

Achievement in cinematography

Black Swan: Matthew Libatique
Inception: Wally Pfister
The King's Speech: Danny Cohen
The Social Network: Jeff Cronenweth
True Grit: Roger Deakins

Achievement in costume design

Alice in Wonderland: Colleen Atwood
I Am Love: Antonella Cannarozzi
The King's Speech: Jenny Beavan
The Tempest: Sandy Powell
True Grit: Mary Zophres

Achievement in directing

Black Swan: Darren Aronofsky
The Fighter: David O. Russell
The King's Speech: Tom Hooper
The Social Network: David Fincher
True Grit: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Best documentary feature

Exit Through the Gift Shop
Gasland
Inside Job
Restrepo
Waste Land

Best documentary short subject

Killing in the Name
Poster Girl
Strangers No More
Sun Come Up
The Warriors of Qiugang

Achievement in film editing

Black Swan: Andrew Weisblum
The Fighter: Pamela Martin
The King's Speech: Tariq Anwar
127 Hours: Jon Harris
The Social Network: Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter

Best foreign language film of the year

Biutiful: Mexico
Dogtooth: Greece
In a Better World: Denmark
Incendies: Canada
Outside the Law (Hors-la-loi): Algeria

Achievement in makeup

Barney's Version: Adrien Morot
The Way Back: Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk, and Yolanda Toussieng
The Wolfman: Rick Baker and Dave Elsey

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

How to Train Your Dragon: John Powell
Inception: Hans Zimmer
The King's Speech: Alexandre Desplat
127 Hours: A.R. Rahman
The Social Network: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song

"Coming Home" from Country Strong: Tom Douglas, Troy Verges, and Hillary Lindsey
"I See the Light" from Tangled: Glenn Slaterl
"If I Rise" from 127 Hours: A.R. Rahman, Dido, and Rollo Armstrong
"We Belong Together" from Toy Story 3: Randy Newman

Best motion picture of the year

The King's Speech
Black Swan
The Fighter
Inception
The Kids Are All Right
127 Hours
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

Best animated short film

Day & Night
The Gruffalo
Let's Pollute
The Lost Thing
Madagascar, a Journey Diary

Best live action short film

The Confession
The Crush
God of Love
Na Wewe
Wish 143

Achievement in sound editing

Inception: Richard King
Toy Story 3: Tom Myers and Michael Silvers
Tron: Legacy: Gwendolyn Yates Whittle and Addison Teague
True Grit: Skip Lievsay and Craig Berkey
Unstoppable: Mark P. Stoeckinger

Achievement in sound mixing

Inception: Lora Hirschberg, Gary A. Rizzo and Ed Novick
The King's Speech: Paul Hamblin, Martin Jensen and John Midgley
Salt: Jeffrey J. Haboush, Greg P. Russell, Scott Millan and William Sarokin
The Social Network: Ren Klyce, David Parker, Michael Semanick and Mark Weingarten
True Grit: Skip Lievsay, Craig Berkey, Greg Orloff and Peter F. Kurland

Achievement in Visual Effets

Alice in Wonderland: Ken Ralston, David Schaub, Carey Villegas, and Sean Phillips
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1: Tim Burke, John Richardson, Christian Manz, and Nicolas Aithadi
Hereafter: Michael Owens, Bryan Grill, Stephan Trojanski, and Joe Farrell
Inception: Paul Franklin, Chris Corbould, Andrew Lockley, and Peter Bebb
Iron Man 2: Janek Sirrs, Ben Snow, Ged Wright, and Daniel Sudick

Adapted screenplay

127 Hours: Danny Boyle & Simon Beaufoy
The Social Network: Aaron Sorki
Toy Story 3: Michael Arndt, John Lasseter, Andrew Stanton, and Lee Unkrich
True Grit: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Winter's Bone: Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini

Original screenplay

Another Year: Mike Leigh
The Fighter: Scott Silver, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson, Keith Dorrington, Paul Tamasy, Eric Johnson
Inception: Christopher Nolan
The Kids Are All Right: Lisa Cholodenko & Stuart Blumberg
The King's Speech: David Seidler

Now that the Academy has expanded the number of Best Picture nominees to 10, and the other main Actor/Actress nominations include five other movies, it's nearly impossible to keep up without working concessions at a multiplex. Especially when there's a new Jersey Shore, Real Housewives, and The Bachelor. Every. Damn. Week.

So when that Oscar party invite comes in the mail, don't panic. We've created a cheat sheet of top talking points. Use one or two of them without fear. However, if you'd like to curb the conversation, we suggest picking one of the paths - Film Snob or Movie Guy - and playing the role to the hilt.

The King's Speech's 12 Nominations

Film Snob Approach

"Having swept the Producers Guild, Directors Guild, and Screen Actors Guild awards, The King's Speech is a shoo-in for BP."

Movie Guy Approach

"I don't know about other awards, but the Academy can't resist any story about the monarchy and a disability. It's like Charlie Sheen answering the doorbell to a platinum blonde porn star holding an 8-ball."

Natalie Portman's Performance in Black Swan

Film Snob Approach

"Portman's transformative performance was the best of her career and clearly the best of any of the Best Actress nominees."

Movie Guy Approach

"Yeah, for sure, it was Portman's best - at least since Queen Amidala in Revenge of the Sith. Losing 20 pounds for the role, getting knocked up by the movie's French choreographer, then showing her baby bump on every red carpet certainly doesn't hurt her chances, either."

Black Swan's Best Picture Nomination

Film Snob Approach

"Aronofsky is finally getting his due after The Wrestler got snubbed for a BP nomination two years ago."

Movie Guy Approach

"Granted it's no Dreamgirls, but was definitely a guilty pleasure. My only complaint is the Kunis-Portman "sex scene" was a real letdown. I've seen way hotter girl-on-girl action on Jersey Shore."

Hailee Steinfeld's Best Supporting Actress Nomination

Film Snob Approach

"Paramount really dropped the ball by promoting Hailee Steinfeld as Best Supporting Actress instead of Best Actress. She carried True Grit."

Movie Guy Approach

"Totally! She's only 14 but already has the wisdom of George C. Scott and Woody Allen. She was asleep during the nomination announcement!"

The Social Network Losing Its Front-Runner Status

Film Snob Approach

"After winning the Golden Globes and National Board of Review awards, I thought The Social Network was an automatic for BP. Now it's the dark horse."

Movie Guy Approach

"No movie has been so mediocre and completely captured the cultural zeitgeist like The Social Network since Crash. So there's still hope."

Annette Bening's Fourth Oscar Nomination

Film Snob Approach

"While Portman has all the Best Actress buzz, don't count out Annette Bening for The Kids Are All Right. With four nominations, she's due."

Movie Guy Approach

"If going gay doesn't push her over the top, nothing will. It worked for Sean Penn (Milk) and Tom Hanks (Philadelphia)."

Christian Bale's Chances Given The King's Speech Bandwagon

Film Snob Approach

"Christian Bale is still the front-runner for Best Supporting Actor, but if this King's Speech momentum keeps up, he's going to get bumped for Geoffrey Rush."

Movie Guy Approach

"He lost 30 pounds and played a drug addict. Big deal. He lost 63 pounds for The Mechanic and wasn't even nominated. Bale will finally get the recognition from the Academy he deserves when he plays an obese homosexual quadrapalegic who cures cancer."

Colin Firth's Inevitability as Best Actor

Film Snob Approach

"Firth should've won last year for A Single Man, so while this might be a make-up win, so be it."

Movie Guy Approach

"Firth will win, but strictly on the merits of playing a real-life person, Jesse Eisenberg should win for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg. The only character more accurately charmless and dislikeable as the real thing is Big Baby in Toy Story 3."

Winter's Bone's Surprise Four Nominations

Film Snob Approach

"I was really happy to see Winter's Bone get recognized in a big way. I saw it at Sundance last year and it's a great little film."

Movie Guy Approach

"Winter's wha? I heard Jennifer Lawrence had something to do with an indie pic last year, but I'm really looking forward to seeing her as the body-painted Mystique in this summer's X-Men: First Class."

Christopher Nolan Snubbed Again

Film Snob Approach

"The fact that Christopher Nolan was not nominated for Inception is an injustice and an outrage."

Movie Guy Approach

"Dude was robbed!"