Three years ago, in a bid to make the awards more appealing to a wide audience, the academy expanded the best-picture field to 10 movies, from five.

WSJ: 'Hugo,' 'The Artist' Dominate Oscar Nominations

Now, following fresh rule changes, the best-picture field announced Tuesday didn't include any huge hits: The year's top earner, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, " is missing, as are all the year's other top-10-grossing films.

WSJ: 'Hugo,' 'The Artist' Dominate Oscar Nominations

Some apply historical patterns, such as the close link between the best-picture and best-director awards, to this year's field.

WSJ: And the Oscar-Pool Winners Are...the Stats Dudes

He piggybacks this unit directly on top of a scope, allowing him to produce never-before-captured wide-field images, like his striking, ghostly picture of Barnard's Loop-a huge arc of gas that covers the length of the constellation Orion.

FORBES: A Star Is Born

But without this elephant's input of new money and ideas, the battle-front against malaria and other deadly diseases might present an even worse picture, especially if the field were left to governments and inter-governmental bodies.

ECONOMIST: Global health

Russell, in a field where I think any nominees with a Best Picture nod will double-dip as usual.

FORBES: Predicting The Oscars - Who Will Take Home The Gold?