I don’t get Penelope Cruz‘s performance in Nine — decent, respectable, nothing earth-shaking — being nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category since it doesn’t hold a candle to Marion Cotillard‘s in Public Enemies. If you add Cottilard’s fine Nine performance to the equation it really makes no sense that Cruz made the cut and she didn’t.

Except for people possibly saying “well, Cotillard won the Best Actress Oscar for playing Edith Piaf a couple of years ago so she can sit this year out.” And their deciding to simultaneously vote for Cruz’s work in Broken Embraces. Right?

We all know Mo’nique will take the award for her Precious performance. Cheers anyway to Maggie Gyllenhaal for her Best Supporting Actress turn in Crazy Heart, which her backers wanted to push in the Best Actress category before sounder thinking prevailed. My personal favorite among the nominees is still Vera Farmiga ‘s performance in Up in the Air.

The losers include Julianne Moore (A Single Man); Melanie Laurent (Inglourious Basterds); Emma Thompson (An Education) and Cara Seymour (An Education).