Before the 2011 Oscar Nominations are released Tuesday morning, Jesse and Jim share some thoughts on Oscar buzz and the year in movies.

----

Jesse: So what are you thoughts on some of the winners? Christian Bale for Best Supporting Actor, Natalie Portman for Best Actress, Colin Firth for Best Actor, The Social Network for Best Picture, David Fincher for Best Director?

What? The nominations haven't come out yet? That can't be right. Because it seems like all the major categories are already sewn up in what has to be one of the most predictable, boring Oscar seasons I have ever seen. Don't believe me? Watch me predict all 10 Best Picture nominees correctly:

127 Hours
Black Swan
Inception
The Fighter
The Kids Are Alright
The King's Speech
The Social Network
Toy Story 3
True Grit
Winter's Bone

DONE DEAL. And the worst part: there's nothing to get angry about! Is that the worst part about this 10 film nomination process we have now? I can't be infuriated because Inception got booted to make room for The Fighter. I can't make an impassioned plea that creating an Animated Film ghetto category is keeping the reliable brilliance of Pixar from being recognized year after year. I'm sure somebody, somewhere will get upset about Blue Valentine getting snubbed, but isn't me, because that shit looks DEPRESSING.

And I'm not the only one who thinks that this year's Oscar slate is already written in stone. Check out this Salon.com article about predicting the worst Oscar snubs.

If those are the worst snubs we can come up with, then what does that say about this year in film? Sorry if I don't get too bent out of shape by the Academy failing to recognize the brilliance that was Zack Galifianakis in "It's Kind of a Funny Story." Do you agree with me that this was an incredibly weak year for movies? I'm not just talking about the Academy baiting fare, either: the Suze and I went months without going to the theaters waiting for something worthwhile to come out. I saw Inception twice because I wanted to get out of the house. I saw something called "The King's Speech" with a cast of nothing but British people (okay, okay, I actually loved The King's Speech, but that's not the point; the point is that I would bring myself to see it in the first place).

Set me straight, Jim: what brilliance have I missed?

-----

Jim: You haven't missed anything. Except maybe the five hours of your life that you spent watching Inception. That one part where the guy from 3rd Rock was floating in the hotel hallway was pretty sweet, but I found the film to be pretty high on technical flash and devoid of substance.

I've barely been to any movies this year -- and I used to see everything. Off the top of my head, I only remember seeing Inception, Toy Story 3, The Sorcerer's Apprentice, True Grit, Black Swan, Harry Potter, The Expendables, and The Social Network in the theater this year. That's less than one a month.

Clearly, that makes me eminently qualified to opine on the Oscars.

I think your nomination list looks pretty good. But I want you to look back at last year. You are missing the movie that has no business being on the list. The random movie that comes out of nowhere and hits you from the blind side. Like last year when the black remake of My Giant got nominated. (Seriously, Billy Crystal must have been pissed about that one.)

So, I'm saying that Winter's Bone doesn't make it. In its place must be something feel good, something hackneyed, and something with no chance of winning. Seabiscetariat should fit that bill nicely.

I'm going out on a limb with that prediction, and that says a hell of a lot.

In a few hours we'll know for sure. But i have a feeling that this year's pool is going to come down to the little categories and the winner of the Portman/Benning race.

And that is the most depressing thing about this year in film-- Natalie freaking Portman just may win an Oscar.