The relentlessly moderate and mild-mannered Kris Tapley (In Contention) and Anne Thompson (Indiewire) sized things up last Friday. Kowtowing to Skyfall, Life of Pi, Les Miserables, etc. An interesting year, they say, for controversy (Zero Dark Thirty, Django Unchained), a large number of big contenders, the shorter Phase One, etc. Tapley: “I would not be surprised if there are 10 nominees.” The Wrap‘s Steve Pond “is quite certain that it will be eight,” says Thompson. And in the Best Director race, she thinks Tom Hooper “is out.”