What I want to know is why is it that Knocked Up is not a bona-fide Best Picture contender. And I'm completely serious!

I know reviews aren't everything but at this point in the race, it's what we fall back on. And here are the numbers (from RT)...

KNOCKED UP: 91% (203 Reviews) | Rating: 7.7 | COTC: 97% & 8.1

AMERICAN GANGSTER: 79% (178 Reviews) | Rating: 7.0 | COTC: 76% & 6.9
INTO THE WILD: 83% (150 Reviews) | Rating: 7.5 | COTC: 76% & 7.4
MICHAEL CLAYTON: 90% (169 Reviews) | Rating: 7.6 | COTC: 94% & 7.9
BEFORE THE DEVIL...: 88% (113 Reviews) | Rating: 7.7 | COTC: 92% & 8.1
3:10 To Yuma: 87% (174 Reviews) | Rating: 7.5 | COTC: 87% & 7.3
HAIRSPRAY: 93% (188 Reviews) | Rating: 7.8 | COTC: 98% & 8.1

And Look at GBG. It has nearly the same scores as Knocked Up but Knocked Up has about 70 more reviews and GBG is barely still in the race.
GONE BABY GONE: 93% (136 Reviews) | Rating: 7.7 | COTC: 91% & 7.4


KNOCKED UP: 91% (203 Reviews) | Rating: 7.7 | COTC: 97% & 8.1

NO COUNTRY: 96% (159 Reviews) | Rating: 8.6 | COTC: 90% & 8.3
ATONEMENT: 93% (28 Reviews) | Rating: 7.8 | COTC: ---

It will be interesting to see how well Juno does compared to Knocked Up.

Because it's an R-rated comedy. Same reason as Borat which had similarly raving reviews.

It's quite good, and I'd like to see at least one of the actors (preferably Heigl or Mann) get nominated, but it's best shot is in Original Screenplay, and even that could prove to be an uphill battle.

Also, different types of films are graded on different criteria.

For example, Enchanted has a 93%. 93 of reviewers believed it is succesful in being a famliy friendly light movie. The Savages has a 90%....90% of reviewers felt it was succesful as a very dark, deep tragicomedy. They're on different levels. Almost any reviewer you ask (that saw both) would agree The Savages is a much better film, but that didn't prevent Enchanted from getting a more unanimously positive score.

Ok, let me ask this then... what will make Juno a better and more fit contender than Knocked Up? I would bet alot that Knocked Up's stats will be just as good or better than Juno when all is said and done. And please don't tell it's the release date.

I ask the question not because I'm naiive... I truly think Knocked Up will end up being one of the best films this year. Yes, that's my opinion but I'm willing to bet alot that I'm not in the minority. IT's just so unconventional an Oscar player that no one will take it seriously.

Juno doesn't have marijuana, shrooms, nudity or like, yknow, close ups of birthing vagina.

edit - was there nudity in Knocked Up?

Same reason as why Little Miss Sunshine was a more fit contender than Borat. Academy likes quirky comedy.

That, plus the stigma of the "gross-out comedy" that accompanies a film like Knocked Up. Even if it isn't "gross-out," per se, it generally falls into that category, or at least the "inappropriate comedy" category, which the Academy just doesn't reward. Juno, on the other hand, like LMS, is neither "gross-out" nor "inappropriate."

Not saying it's OK (Knocked Up could very well end up in my year-end top 10), but I guess that's just how it is.

Knocked Up is still my #2 movie of the year. I'd get a kick out of it getting nominated.