Critics Choice goes indie, blockbuster

It's the awards season equivalent of high-low shopping, where designer duds blend seamlessly with bargain bin items from Target. And good on the Broadcast Film Critics for putting artsy fare like "Milk" and "The Wrestler" side by side with blockbusters "WALL-E" and "The Dark Knight."

This 200-strong group of critics from across the country this morning announced the nominations for the Critics Choice Awards, melding indie favorites like Fox Searchlight's "Slumdog Millionaire" with big studio offerings like Paramount's "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

(It's easy to be inclusive when you nominate 10 films for best picture, and in some cases six performers, when the Oscars are stuck to a streamlined five and, in this year's case, three animated flicks.)

First, we have to note a glaring omission before we get to the chosen ones. Why was "Revolutionary Road" snubbed, along with stellar performances from Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio and Michael Shannon? "Australia" didn't make the cut? Who cares? Brandon Walters did, with a nod for best young actor/actress, and he was the best part of the movie anyway.

But a Critics Choice list with no mention of "Revolutionary Road" dents its street cred in our view. Room for only one Winslet flick? And they picked the one with the creepy pedophile storyline? Hmmmmmm.

On to the highlights: "Benjamin Button" and "Milk" had the most noms, with eight apiece. Clint Eastwood is gaining steam as best actor -- he just won that kudo from the National Board of Review the other day, and now he's nominated for a Critics Choice. So, is it really Sean Penn's year?

Melissa Leo, indie darling and "breakthrough performer" who's been in the business some 20 years, rubs elbows with Oscar veterans Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett for best actress (presumptive winner in the category: Anne Hathaway).

For a preview of exactly what we think the Oscars will look like, check out the Critics Choice best director race: David Fincher ("Button"), Gus Van Sant ("Milk"), Christopher Nolan ("The Dark Knight"), Ron Howard ("Frost/Nixon") and Danny Boyle ("Slumdog Millionaire").

And what Oscar could look like, if he'd get that comedy-averse stick outta his butt: "Tropic Thunder" (setting up a Robert Downey Jr. vs. Heath Ledger face-off), "Role Models," "Burn After Reading," "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" and "Vicky Cristina Barcelona."

Go here for the full list, and chime right on in, readers, about where you think these choices hold up and where they fall flat.