Best Song: "Skyfall" (2012)

Scene from Skyfall

Welcome to Best Song, a new weekly column released on Sunday dedicated to chronicling the Best Original Song category over the course of its many decades. The goal is to listen to and critique every song that has ever been nominated in the category as well as find the Best Best Song and the Best Loser. By the end, we'll have a comprehensive list of this music category and will hopefully have a better understanding not only of the evolution, but what it takes to receive a nomination here. It may seem easy now, but wait until the bad years.

A Look at the Shortlists for Best Hair and Make-Up, Best Original Song, and Best Picture

Will Smith in Concussion

With The Academy starting to get their final ballots ready, it seems like a great time to see what has made the final cut on its various lists. So far, there has been exploration into the Best Foreign films and Best Documentary. Today, there's an exploration of three major lists: Best Hair and Make-Up; Best Original Song, as well as Best Picture. The following is a look at both of the categories including some additional commentary. While Best Hair and Make-Up has been whittled down to a very interesting seven titles, Best Picture looks to be more lofty with a lengthy 305 titles (even then, a decline in overall total from last year's 325). Check out more after the jump.

Dear Academy: Enough with the James Bond Love!

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

When I wrote about Adele's Skyfall theme a few months ago, I predicted that it would be the extent to the film's Oscar chances.  Then things began to pick up and suddenly it feels like James Bond will be integral to this year's ceremonies. With five nominations, Skyfall is making out to be one of the most renowned Bond films that the Academy has ever dealt with. However, it feels like the love doesn't stop there. With the franchise celebrating 50 years, it feels like this quite possibly could be the year when Bond infiltrates the Oscars in a bad, bad way.

Can Seth MacFarlane Bring Youthful Energy to the Oscars?

Seth MacFarlane

It was announced today that the director of the breakout hit comedy Ted and creator of the Emmy winning cartoon series Family Guy as well as the nominated shows American Dad, and The Cleveland Show will be hosting this year's telecast of the 85th Academy Awards. That statement justifies a spit take, if just because of  how random it appeared. It plays like a bad cutaway gag in Family Guy. However, this could be a silver lining. Is it possible that the Academy has finally found a way to be young and hip by giving Seth MacFarlane the hosting gig?