Academy Supersizes Best Picture Field

From five nominees to ten...as if they needed an excuse to make the Oscar telecast even longer.

Next February's Academy Awards will pit ten movies against each other in the final category, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Is it an attempt to make the Oscars more inclusive of viewers at home? An effort to honor a wider array of films? Or maybe it's simply a marketing ploy ("10 Best Picture Nominees in 2010")?

The Academy will surely claim that this is a return to Oscar's roots. After all, Casablanca faced off against nine competitors in 1943, the last year that ten movies were nominated in the"Best Picture category. But my money's on the "inclusivity" rationale. How many times have you seen more than two of the five Best Picture nominees prior to the Oscars? Two years ago I saw all five for the first time ever...but only because of an Atonement/There Will Be Blood double feature the day before the Oscars. Last year, in contrast, I saw only one -- Slumdog Millionaire -- prior to the big night. Much more typical for me -- and probably for the general TV viewing public who ABC and the Academy hope to attract.

Whatever the reason for the switch, I do think this move will increase John Q. Public's investment in the Oscars. Whether he'll tune in for the entire 4-plus-hour marathon of movie montages and musical numbers is another story.

The Oscars... ain't got nothin' on the Peanut Butter Awards!

The nominees for the 80th Annual Academy Awards were announced today and were significantly overshadowed by the surprising death of Heath Ledger. It seems that details are still forthcoming about the death, but rest assured that Peanut Butter & Movies will not be keeping you updated (that's what sites like tmz.com are for) other than to confirm that the most anticipated movie of 2008, The Dark Knight, is still on track for summer release.

Meanwhile, the continued writer's strike threatens to take down the annual Oscar ceremony in much the same fashion that it dispatched with the Golden Globes. If that turns out to be the case, then this year's nominees will undeservedly be getting the short end of the stick. So, while actors and award shows may be dropping like flies, Peanut Butter & Movies is here to brighten your award season with the first annual PEANUT BUTTER AWARDS!

We will be revealing our award nominees later in the week, but first and foremost we need your help. The Academy Awards wouldn't be squat without the sweet golden Oscar, so we here at Peanut Butter & Movies need a kickass statuette, medal, trophy or knickknack to virtually give out. Three leading contenders are pictured below. Vote on the left, and we'll make the leading vote-getter the official "Peanut Butter Award."

The Olympic Gold Medal Peanut Butter Award:

The Atlas World of Peanut Butter Award:

The Paul Revere Silver Trophy Peanut Butter Award: