•  Anne Thompson calls "Beowulf" "good chessy fun," smartly avoids the temptation to call it a masterwork just because it is a considerable step forward for a process Robert Zemeckis is passionate about. [Thompson on Hollywood]

•  After Tom O'Neil's consideration yesterday that "No Country for Old Men" is no Best Picture shoo-in, Sasha Stone is having none of it, keeps on making grand declarations. [Awards Daily]

•  Scott Feinberg, meanwhile, and perhaps wisely, is keeping an even keel, says a "No Country" nomination is "conceivable...but unlikely." [And the Winner Is...]

•  Yours truly, by the way, is jumping back off the train for the time being. [In Contention]

•  As the Oscar season approaches, Sean P. Means rolls out what he considers the best performances of the year so far... [Salt Lake Tribune]

•  ...and Jeffrey Wells is right there to smack him down. [Hollywood Elsewhere]

•  David Poland reports that Paramount and Fox are moving all guild and Academy screenings off their lots during the strike -- man I wish I owned a screening room in this town ($$$!!!). [The Hot Blog]

•  Keeping in mind that major Academy contenders tend to back-load a given cinematic year, Nathaniel Rogers gives some love to award-worthy efforts from 2007's first three quarters. [The Film Experience]