•  Anne Thompson on a number of pieces regarding "getting ugly for Oscar." [Thompson on Hollywood]

•  Meanwhile, The Envelope has a gallery of "Award-winning transformations." [The Envelope]

•  Fashion reporter Elizabeth Snead talks to Marion Cotillard about "becoming "Edith Piaf." [The Envelope]

•  Having seen only a reel of Robert Zemeckis' "Beowulf," Jeffrey Wells declares the film "deserves an industry-wide salute for expanding the definition of "animated" in a truly brilliant and innovative fashion." [Hollywood Elsewhere]

•  Nathaniel Rogers defends the supposedly empty supporting actress category, claims "there is never a shortage of quality work" but that "there is sometimes a shortage of stock roles that are typically deemed worthy of attention."  I still think the category's empty. [The Film Experience]

•  A.O. Scott on the upcoming (and on-going) onslaught of war films, many of them awards contenders. [New York Times]

•  John Foote speculates, says Jack Nicholson shoul dbe taken seriously in "The Bucket List." [In Contention]

•  Awards Daily is proudly a "Yuma-drunk site."  Got the ads to prove it. [Awards Daily]

•  Oscar nominee (and contender this year for "No Country for Old Men") Javier Bardem to receive Motecito award at Sana Barbara Fest.  Montecito Award?  Really? [Variety]

•  Art Directors Guild to give Ray Harryhausen its Outstanding Contribution to Cinematic Imagery Award. [Variety]

•  Tom O'Neil is too kind, makes yours truly blush. [Gold Derby]