Oscar nominations: 'Grit' and 'Bone' -- The Girls Are All Right

Immediately, what sets off the Oscar nominations from most of the year's award slates is the excitement for "True Grit"and "Winter's Bone," two films with strong young female heroines who are almost mirror images of each other. "True Grit," among its ten nominations, has earned nods for best picture, best director, best actor, best adapted script, and best supporting actress (Hailee Steinfeld). "Winter's Bone," which up to now scored strongly only with independent film groups, has earned best picture, best adapted script, and best supporting actor (well done, John Hawkes!). Jennifer Lawrence in this gritty pic is up for best actress instead of best supporting actress. That contrast creates one of the Academy's typical head-scratchers: Steinfeld is supposed to be a supporting actress in "Grit," but she's just as great and dominant as Lawrence is in "Winter's Bone."