"Geez", yourself. I have to ask - did you even see Slumdog Millionaire?

Not to knock the other films up for Best Picture, because each is outstanding and worthy effort in its own respective right -- save for the pretentious Benjamin Button, which was overly long and somewhat tedious -- but Slumdog was one of the most unique and striking cinematic experiences I've had in quite a while. It was a risky film that took a number of chances with its targeted western audiences, and succeeded wildly in most all its gambles.

And as good as they are (except Button), the other nominated films each played it relatively safe. Given its topical subject matter, Milk was a surprisingly conventional biopic that was elevated chiefly by a mesmerizing lead performance from Sean Penn in the title role, and very strong supporting work from Josh Brolin and James Franco.

Same goes for Frost / Nixon. It was Frank Langella's singular ability to wring from the audience some sense of empathy and pity for the lonely, complex and generally unsympathetic historical character that was Richard Nixon, which raised this film above the ordinary.

Mediocre?  Slumdog Millionaire is one of my favorite films of all time though it's, as I mentioned, a srange mixture of gritty reality topped by a fantasy-fable final section (the latter very Bollywood).  The acting or direction was top notch though I found the lead female bland.  She was not meant to be much more I guess.  

  I was sorry to see the 'millionaire' host from the movie grabbing the Actor statue and trying to hog the entire speech.  Too much like his movie character.  

  Amy Adams did a superb job as the young nun - another quieter role that's more difficult than it seems.  Viola Davis was excellent.  Streep's accent (again) was really amusing.  

  I too hope that Winslet (kept to only one Oscar nomination) does win.  She tends to do characters and rarely seems like the same person in all those films.  She's underrated.