Oscar on DVD

It's that time of the year. The nominees for the 81st annual Academy Awards were announced in the wee hours of this morning. But in the current economic climate, who can afford to go to the theater these days? The Oscars will be handed out on February 22. So, there's time to catch up on DVD. Here are the nominees already available:

1. Dark Knight
   
   
2. Tropic Thunder
   
   
3. All the animated films (Kung Fu Panda, Wall-E, Bolt)
   

   
   

4. The Visitor
   
   This is a great movie you may not have seen.
   
   
   Although all of the acting in this film is stellar, The Visitor's lone nomination is for Richard Jenkins as best actor. While definitely deserving of the nomination, he will most likely be beaten by The Wrestler's Mickey Rourke.
   
   
   
   
5. Iron Man (Sound Editing / Visual Effects)
   
   
6. The Duchess (Costume Design)
   
   
7. Encounters at the End of the World (Documentary)
   
   
8. Man on Wire (Documentary)
   
   You can watch it on demand at Netflix.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. Wanted (Sound Editing / Mixing)
   
   
10. In Bruges (Original Screenplay)
    
    
11. Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Supporting Actress for Penelope Cruz) - January 27
    
    
12. Frozen River (Actress, Original Screenplay) - February 10
    
    
13. Changeling - February 17
    

AFTER THE AWARDS:

1. Australia (Costume Design) - March 10
   
   
2. Happy-Go-Lucky (Original Screenplay)
   - March 10
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Rachel Getting Married (Lead Actress - Anne Hathaway) - March 17
   

As far as I can tell that's it for now.

None of the best picture nominees or nominees for foreign film are available on DVD. You can count on the studios to announce more release dates over the next few weeks.