I was pleased because the following DIDN'T occur:

1) The acadamy was gushed with sentimentality and sorrow (like the Grammys) and award Ray (a good, but not great film) the Best picture nod. MDB was clearly the best film nominated IMO and should have won.

2) The acadamy ignored Sideways, a very overrated and ordinary film IMO. A couple of pretentious wannabe snobs go to wine country and get laid. Big deal. This movie reminded me of a high-brow version of "Dumb and Dumber".

3) Scorcese didn't win best director just because he got screwed so many times.
Aviator wouldn't even make Scorcese personal top 10 list of the movies he's directed.
Should the guy who directed Taxi Driver, Mean Streets, Good Fellas, Alice does live
here anymore, etc have an Oscar by now? Of course...but don't give it to him now just because the acadamy screwed up in the past. That reminds me of when Newman won for "The Color or Money". Newman probably had 50 better movies than that! Well at least 25!

4) Just because Ray is just a good movie, don't ignore Jamie Foxx's performance.
He clearly deserved it. Cheadle and Eastwood were good...but Foxx had more work cut out for him in his role.

My main gripe this year was the fact that Hotel Rowanda wasn't at least nominated for best picture. I thought it was a far superior film than either Sideways or Aviator....and even better than Ray. Didn't see Neverland so I can't comment there.