Reading through Pete Hammond's just-up Envelope piece "Oscar's Build-a-Buzz Workshop," I was struck by the sheer glut of awards and designations that are out there on the pre-Oscar festival circuit.  Hammond does a nice job of running them down, but some of these things sound like awards for the sake of having awards.

The "Modern Master" award?  Really?

Anyway, Hammond goes on to point out the curious indication that, in the run-up to awards season, box office disappointment could "oddly be looked at as a plus in at least one unique way. It forces the DVDs out even faster to acting branch members, who don't seem be looking at the gross when they judge a performance."

Give it a look at The Envelope's "Notes on a Season."