I mean seriously look at Babel, look at Crash, at Bobby, and I'm sure plenty more that get mediocre reviews and still do fine come award time. So do when a film gets lukewarm reception, why are people so quick to throw it into the Oscar grave? I still maintain Funny People, a dramedy that focuses on Hollywood, is still in the running, and Public Enemies can still snag some tech awards.

Critics don't matter to me.

At least, not in terms of me seeing a movie, because I never read them before seeing a film.

However, they are a decided entertainment afterwards...

If a film is completely trashed, yes.

I speaking more lukewarm reception, such as Public Enemies and Funny People

I think both are perceived as being failures, especially in comparison of past efforts. It seeps into the brain and permeates throughout. Though Public Enemies is curious, since its within 2m of being Mann's biggest hit stateside and most people like it. A better case could be made for PE being nominated had it been released in Nov/Dec with the same critical response

I'm not just speaking in terms of best picture though, albeit that was my original focus

I still think we could see a tech nod for Public Enemies. It's a high profile period piece. I'm curious how many films set in that era have been nominated for techs? Dick Tracy, Untouchables, Chicago...

Funny People is sunk. The 2 awards most talked about were Screenplay and Supporting Actress. The inclusion of Leslie Mann's character is the main reason the film falls apart in the third act.

Don't rule out Sandler!

I know the Academy probably hates him... but you never know!

I think you can safely rule out a Sandler nom. He might show up at the Globes though.

What matters is the general perception. Reviews play a role in that.

Critics don't matter to me, If a movie gets my attention, I'm gonna see it no matter what critcs say.

Yes.
They are not only the factor, but they are relatively important. It's not impossible for a film to get big nominations on mediocre reception, but it's rare.

it is not rare. it happens nearly every year.

cough The Reader, Babel, Crash cough

I'm not sure if Babel and Crash count. The Reader, yes, because hardly anyone loved that film in the real world. Babel and Crash had plenty of supporters.

In fact, I'd argue the critics are becoming more important. They could single-handedly thrust a film or performance (that may have been forgotten due to lack of box office) back into the race or make them a shoe-in for noms (e.g. Sideways, Slumdog, etc.) when giving out their year-end awards.

that ties perfectly into The Hurt Locker IMO. Sure to show up and top many a year end list. Yet kinda a mess theatrically.

with 1 film out of 5. An even then it's not every year.
In the past 2 years (2007-2008) only 1 film received lukwarm reviews (the shit heap, starring that lady that only won an oscar cause she hadn't yet.) all the rest received very good critical response. I consider that rare.

Funny People is dead. For a Sandler/Rogan summer comedy it needed 90% of things to go right. Meh reviews and bomb at the box-office = hellz no. It's not Babel which is literally 70% actors crying and posturing for Oscar