When the Oscar nominations come out every year, the biggest controversies usually revolve around the people who got snubbed, not those who actually got the nominations. This year, one of the biggest snubs was Michael Fassbender for Shame. He was nominated for a Critics’ Choice award and a Golden Globe, among others, but the Academy completely ignored him. Why? The LA Times thinks that Michael Fassbender’s penis ruined his chance at an Oscar. Really. It’s pretty well known that the Academy is a little stuffy, and they tend to be put off by racy scenes. So they may have overlooked Fassbender’s performance because of his full frontal nude scene.

Let’s face it – Michael Fassbender’s penis is a real problem. Here are a few more things that it has ruined.

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The time has come! After hours upon hours in dark movie theaters, countless boxes of Sour Patch Kids and probably 17 Rachel Zoe red carpet dress meltdowns (literally), The 83rd Annual Academy Awards are finally here! And we couldn’t be more excited – for the couture, for the Best Film category, and for the delicious Thai food we just had delivered (Love you, fresh rolls!).

And we’re gonna sit here all night long, liveblogging it all with you. (Partly because we love this show and partly because we’re too lazy to get off the couch to do anything else.) From the awkwardly forced banter between Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest on E! Live from the Red Carpet to the last winner’s long winded and exasperated acceptance speech, we’ll be sharing our thoughts, screams and fashion critiques.

Got something YOU wanna say? Join in one the fun (and get featured right here) by hopping on Twitter and tweeting @ccliveblog or using the hashtag, #ccoscars. Like drinking beer and taking showers, we really don’t like to liveblog alone, so come chat with us. The more the merrier…and the less pathetic we feel.

(Oh, and if you were too cheap/busy to see all of this year’s nominated movies, check out our Oscars Cheat Sheet so you’re not left out at the party.)

Tomorrow night you’ll pop your popcorn and plop down on the couch to see yet another award show. The Oscars. The Academy Awards. The best of the best in award shows. (Or at least they seem to think so.) But with all the hype surrounding award shows lately I can’t help but think a regular night at the Oscars might not hold up that well against some of the drama we’ve had surrounding our award shows lately.

Embarrassed celebrities?
Outraged actors?

How can the Oscars compete with that? Well, I have a few ideas…

1. Get Ricky Gervais to host. I know James Franco and Anne Hathaway already have this gig covered but I think it would be great if Ricky Gervais at least got the chance to speak. I mean the man’s been a social pariah since the Golden Globes and I think it’s time he and Hollywood bury the hatchet. Sure, the celebs may not be ready for another round of Ricky’s hard hitting humor but I most definitely am. These celebs need to learn to take a joke and the only way they’re going to get a thicker skin is if they’re exposed to the abuse over and over again. What…too harsh?

2. Someone needs to pull a Kanye. I think it would work best if this were to take place during the winner of Best Picture’s acceptance speech. Let’s say The Social Network wins. Someone should step up just as Scott Rudin is thanking the academy and declare that they’re going to let him finish but Inception is the best film of all time, and could Christopher Nolan please tell him if the whole thing was a dream or not now? Because it’s been driving him crazy for months and he needs answers! And so do I.

3. Natalie Portman should have a “wardrobe malfunction.” Similar to Janet Jackson’s at the Super Bowl back in the day. She played a ballerina in Black Swan, right? Just have her do a couple of pirouette’s here and there around the stage and let her strapless gown fall down a bit too far. And have her continue the dance as though she hadn’t even realized it happened. Got to love live television, right?

4. Jesse Eisenburg should kiss a boy and like it. Gentleman’s choice, of course, but I can’t help but feel like his costar, Andrew Garfield would make a good smoocher. Not only would it add a whole new dimension to their best friends/worst enemies dynamic, break that rule about not mixing business with pleasure, and serve as a throwback to the Britney/Madonna kiss, but it would also cause people to stop and wonder what really happened between Marc Zuckerberg and Eduardo Saverin. Completely unfounded? Yes. But entertaining nonetheless.

5. James Franco and Anne Hathaway should hookup. Have you seen their Oscar commercials? They’re just so darn adorkable together as they train to host the Oscars. Laughing and teasing and just being too cute for me to want any of the above to take place and cause them trouble. I mean, I’ve loved Anne Hathaway since she played the frizzy haired Mia Therm0polis in The Princess Diaries, and James Franco, well, he’s James Franco. So if none of the above were to happen it would be okay as long as these two were to hook up.  And mean it. Like, have the cameras zoom in on them going at it behind stage when they should be hosting. It can be staged. I don’t care. Just don’t tell me that. Please?

Fingers crossed for a little Oscar excitement to break up the long-winded acceptance speeches(!!). Make sure to tune in with us Sunday night as we liveblog all the potential dramz!

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You may not know by now, but I’m a movie nerd. In fact, I have seen all of the films nominated for Best Picture this year at the Academy Awards. Which brings us to why we’re here: I’m going to help those of you who didn’t want to spend a million dollars at the theater last year, but still want to impress at your Oscar party guests. (Read all of Meredith’s reviews here)

I’m going to give you a synopsis that’s shorter than a tweet, a list of major nominations, and a fun fact to impress your friends with during the commercial breaks. And I’ll tell you the films you should place your bets on…but don’t come after me if you don’t win your pool!

Note: I’m only going through the films that were also nominated for Best Picture so keep in mind that Javier Bardem, Jeremy Renner, Nicole Kidman, Michelle Williams, and Jacki Weaver are also all nominated for acting awards.

127 Hours
Synopsis: Based on a true story, a climber is trapped under a boulder for 127 hours.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (James Franco), Best Editing, Best Score, Best Song (“If I Rise”), Best Adapted Screenplay

Fun Fact: Until the end of time, everyone’s going to be describing this movie as “the-one-where-James-Franco-cuts-off-his-arm.” Franco actually filmed a video for Funny Or Die in which his grandma mocks the “pussies” who don’t keep their eyes open during the scene.

Black Swan
Synopsis: A ballet dancer lands her dream role, which leads to her possible psychological deterioration.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actress (Natalie Portman), Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing

Fun Fact: Mila Kunis has come out with a lot of interesting statements about her drop to 98 pounds for her role. She criticizes the industry for being “f*cked up,” claiming, “In real life, I looked disgusting, but in photographs and on film, it looked amazing.” Kunis, who was nominated for a Golden Globe, didn’t receive an Oscar nom.

My pick for Best Actress.

The Fighter
Synopsis: Based on a true story, a boxer must overcome obstacles, such as his trainer-brother’s drug problem, to succeed.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams and Melissa Leo), Best Director, Best Editing, Best Original Screenplay

Fun Fact: Melissa Leo is getting some flack for her “Consider” campaign. Judge for yourself…

My pick for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress (Melissa Leo).

Inception
Synopsis: In a futuristic world, a group of dream-invaders set out to plant an idea in someone’s mind through his dream.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Cinematography, Best Score, Best Original Screenplay

Fun Fact: Director Christopher Nolan has been snubbed by the Academy in the past for Memento and The Dark Knight. His snub this year started a little Twitter drama.

The Kids Are All Right
Synopsis: The sperm donor to two lesbian mothers makes his way into the family’s lives for better or for worse.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Mark Ruffalo), Best Actress (Annette Bening), Best Original Screenplay

Fun Fact: Annette Bening and Julianne Moore were both campaigned for a Best Actress nomination, but Bening beat out Moore for a nod.

The King’s Speech
Synopsis: King George VI of Britain must work to beat a speech impediment that will affect his career.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Colin Firth), Best Supporting Actor (Geoffrey Rush), Best Supporting Actress (Helena Bonham Carter), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Original Screenplay

Fun Fact: There was a lot of debate, after the film was released, about removing swears in order to get a PG-13 rating. You’ll be shocked to know that the creative forces behind the film were opposed, but the big money-hungry companies behind the film were for the edit.

My pick for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

The Social Network
Synopsis: The story of the students who founded Facebook and their subsequent fight to get credit for it.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jesse Eisenberg), Best Cinematography, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Score, Best Adapted Screenplay

Fun Fact: Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance on SNL when Jesse Eisenberg hosted to poke fun at the film. Turns out Zuckerberg is no actor, but hey, I don’t think he’s looking for a backup job anyway.

Toy Story 3
Synopsis: Woody, Buzz, and co. are left to fend for themselves in a vicious day care center while their original owner heads off to college.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Animated Film, Best Song (“We Belong Together”), Best Adapted Screenplay

Fun Fact: Pixar always finds a way to work small details in from past and future films that they’ve made. Lots-o’-Huggin’ Bear made his first appearance in Up. Check out Toy Story ‘s other sick hidden Easter Eggs (I’m a sucker for The Shining references).

True Grit
Synopsis: A young girl enlists the help of two men to avenge her father’s death.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Jeff Bridges), Best Supporting Actress (Hailee Steinfeld), Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay

Fun Fact: Hailee Steinfeld, 13-years-old at the time, beat out 15,000 girls for the role of Mattie.

Winter’s Bone
Synopsis: A girl must face the dangerous world of crystal meth dealing in order to find her father.

Nominations: Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (John Hawkes), Best Actress (Jennifer Lawrence), Best Adapted Screenplay

Fun Fact: The Rolling Stone interview of nominee Jennifer Lawrence quotes her as saying, “I’m attracted to my brother.” Let’s hope it’s a misquote.

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[You may be wondering why, since I usually write about new releases, I have chosen to review Blue Valentine (which was released in late December most places) this week. Well, despite being out for a month, Blue Valentine remains a water cooler topic. The subject is no longer the MPAA’s original decision to give Blue Valentine an NC-17 rating (read my thoughts on that here), but instead it is Michelle Williams' nomination for Best Actress; more notably, it is her nomination compared to Ryan Gosling who did not receive a nomination for his performance. Aside from that, it is an Oscar-nominated film, which means that if you look hard enough, you can probably find a showing in your area.]

Blue Valentine is the story of a young couple in the process of falling into, and subsequently out of, love. The film masterfully goes back and forth between the two times, providing an amazing juxtaposition. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play the couple and they deserve so much credit for their work in this film. Their performances make the audience see a transformation, while only truly acting infatuation and whatever the opposite of infatuation is.

When I was debating whether or not to see the film, specifically to see it alone, my friend told me I should and had an interesting comment. He said, “It’s the kind of movie that you don’t want to talk about after.” I was sold. And now I know exactly what he was talking about. The film is beautifully shot, wonderfully acted, and perfectly depressing.

There are some amazing directors up for an Academy Award for best director this year, but I believe that, despite not receiving a nomination, Derek Cianfrance deserves a lot of credit for this film. He uses the subtlest techniques in order to portray the two different times in characters’ lives. The scenes in both time periods have a gritty life-like quality, but the flashbacks contain a slight gloss and optimism to them whereas the present day features a darker, harsher setting. It really helps you get into the mindset of both times, which would otherwise be tricky considering how different the characters’ emotions are from past to present.

Both Gosling and Williams always impress with their acting and their work in Blue Valentine is no exception. These characters are faced with obstacle after obstacle and the actors make every reaction they portray completely believable.

I had a theory while watching this film that everything will get something out of it. Sure, it’s a pretty depressing film, but we all have different life experiences and opinions when it comes to things like falling in love and divorce. I, for example, am a cynic on the subject of love and have been a child of divorce. Needless to say, I felt a strong connection to the film. And, if you choose to see it, you likely will bring your own baggage, or optimism, to your movie-going experience as everyone subconsciously does. So, while the film has undeniably depressing moments, I am curious to read your comments regarding what you got out of the film.

If you’re looking to laugh at the theater this weekend, don’t see Blue Valentine. But, if you feel an onset of masochism, try out Blue Valentine; you will be impressed by the beautiful way Cianfrance, Gosling, and Williams tell this story (and then you will be very melancholy, so don’t say I didn’t warn you), or, at the very least, it will give you something to talk about at your Academy Awards party (February 27^th! Save the date!).

Click here to get Meredith’s take on other new releases.

Anybody else out there already having to read volumes upon volumes for their classes? WTF? It’s only the second week back, professors! Can’t a girl catch a little post-break break?

Le sigh.

Good thing there’s music to save the day. I figured I’d help everyone out there get back into the swing of things and offer up an album that’s great to do homework to when you want some background noise but the How I Met Your Mother marathons are too distracting. It also just so happens to be one of the Oscar nominees for best original score: The Social Network Soundrack.

About the Artist:
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame teamed up with Atticus Ross to score the film The Social Network. Reznor originally turned down the gig, but eventually came around. Smart move, buddy. Reznor is from Pennsylvania and dropped out of college after a year to pursue his musical career. Ross is an English composer who moved to the United States in 2000 and has also worked on Book of Eli.

Top 3 Tracks:

In Motion

In the Hall of the Mountain King

Magnetic

Why You Should Listen To It:
If you thought the movie was good, just wait until you hear the soundtrack; it’s impossible not to love it. Especially when you’re tackling that mountain of reading you’ve got to do for class. It’s good music that passes the time and blocks out the people whispering around you in the library, without being too distracting. It’s new, refreshing, dark, mysterious, and energetic all at the same time.

The entire album is awesome, but whenever you hit the studying wall and need to get pumped up, put it over to In the Hall of the Mountain King. It’s like 5 Hour Energy in MP3 form.

Want more awesome iPod suggestions? You got it!