Variety's Features department has been super busy this week, with the addition of three new editions as we close in on the end of the year.

First up, as part of the "Crix' Picks" edition, Sasha Stone analyzes the effect of punditry on the Oscar race.  Manohla Dargis, Dave Karger and Pete Howell are quoted.

Meanwhile, Elsa Bertet looks at the European blogosphere and the "uncharted territory" of Web sites dedicated to the kudos season overseas.

David Mermelstein has the lede in the screenplays collective, looking at the writers' race as one chocked full of "fractured families" and "dysfunctional dynsaties."  There is also a boatload of screenwriter profiles to click through.

Finally, Dade Hayes launches the Best Picture edition by making sure you understand that Oscar campaigns ain't what they used to be, while Dave McNary reminds us of the Academy's June decision to change its "rule of three" regarding allowable credited producers on Best Picture nominees.

There are plenty more stories in that issue, including a giant list of prducer profiles per film.