It can't be that bad, can it?

Dear Academy,

Was 2008 that bad a year for movies? I've suspected it was for a while, and your nominations this morning only confirm that theory. Little seems unexpected and a lot seems overlooked, which I suppose is your stock in trade, but c'mon. Fortunately I don't think you'll ever disappoint me quite as much as you did when you failed to recognize Children of Men as one of the single greatest movies ever, but let's talk about what you're doing here.

I've yet to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but I doubt that it's 13 nominations good. David Fincher's last movie, Zodiac, was possibly that good, and you paid it no mind. Are you trying to make up for that?

It's nice to see character actors Richard Jenkins and Melissa Leo get a Q-rating boost from their respective nods, and it's nice for you to throw hardest working actor in Hollywood Robert Downey Jr. a bone.

Less nice are the lack of nominations for the following: The Dark Knight for best picture, Christopher Nolan for director, Jonathan and Christopher Nolan for screenplay; In Bruges for anything other than screenplay; acting nods for Slumdog Millionaire; Bruce Springsteen for song; Rosemaire Dewitt or Debra Winger for supporting actress, Jonathan Demme for director, Rachel Getting Married for best picture.

Much like the middling melodramas you've insisted on celebrating, your nominations feel less than inspired. Most people would tell me that you're like that every year. When is it going to stop?

Heart,

April

P.S. I am going to go hang out with Dana and Troy.