It's like clockwork.  LA Times columnist Patrick Goldstein wheels his ornery bones out in the middle of December for a healthy chorus of Oscar blogger hatred and critics pouncing on the way to both offering critical assessments of films in play and trying his hand at prognosticating the Academy Awards to come.

You couldn't make this stuff up.

This year the points of attack are Scott Foundas (who got his panties in a twist over Oscar bloggers two weeks ago), The Envelope (cleverly, I guess diplomatically disguised as "this paper" by Goldstein) and the harmless And the Winner Is, of all things.  I guess Scott Feinberg has finally hit it big.

Goldstein left favorite whipping boys David Poland and Jeffrey "the Lewis Black of Oscar bloggers" Wells alone this time around.  And thankfully, I didn't have to deal with one of those "Kris, I love your site, would love to talk with you about Oscar blogs for a piece I'm putting together" emails this year.  But regardless, this song and dance grows more and more tedious with each...passing...year.

Anyway, Goldstein seems to think Tim Burton's "Sweeney Todd" will take down the Best Picture award with 7-1 odds.  Say what you will about Oscar bloggers, but we don't concoct ODDS.  And we're the ones appearing to be "breathless racetrack tipsters?"

"Atonement" (8-1), "No Country for Old Men" (9-1), "Michael Clayton" (12-1) and "Juno" (14-1) round out Goldstein's top five contenders.

For some context, here are Goldstein's past rankings:

2006
"Dreamgirls" (4-1)
"The Queen" (6-1)
"The Departed" (9-1)
"Little Miss Sunshine" (10-1)
"Flags of Our Fathers" (12-1)

2005
Can't find them.  Anyone know?  Sadly, I also can't find Goldstein's infamous "Beware of Blog" column from the very same year that contained more vitriol than usual.

2004
"Ray" (6-1)
"Million Dollar Baby" (7-1)
"Sideways" (8-1)
"Spanglish" (9-1)
"Finding Neverland" (12-1)

2003
"Mystic River" (6-1)
"Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" (8-1)
"Cold Mountain" (10-1)
"Finding Nemo" (14-1)
"House of Sand & Fog" (15-1)

2002
"Chicago" (5-1)
"Road to Perdition" (8-1)
"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" (10-1)
"Antwone Fisher" (12-1)
"About Schmidt" (14-1)

2001
"Ali" (4-1)
"A Beautiful Mind" (6-1)
"The Majestic" (8-1)
"The Shipping News" (10-1)
"Shrek" (12-1)