What about the rest of the cast?

I think it's time the Oscars begin to recognize ensembles in films like the Screen Actor's Guild Awards. Sure, they can continue recognizing featured performers, but it always seems unfair when other worthy cast members get left out.

This year there were a number of ensembles worthy of recognition, in addition to featured performers. Sure, Natalie Portman is a frontrunner to win Best Actress for "Black Swan" but both Barbara Hershey and Mila Kunis were surprisingly left out of the Best Supporting Actress category, when the supporting players helped make Portman shine (including Winona Ryder). I was thrilled about Nicole Kidman's much-deserved nomination for "Rabbit Hole" but I wish Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest were also nominated. "Rabbit Hole" had an outstanding ensemble that extended to Tammy Blanchard and Sandra Oh. Julianne Moore got overlooked for "The Kids are All Right", as did Ryan Gosling for "Blue Valentine" but their co-stars received nominations when their performances were just as good.

If the Oscars ever do introduce an ensemble award, think of all the films from the past that could have and should have been nominated or awarded: "The Godfather", "Terms of Endearment", "Gone with the Wind", "Amadeus", "Million Dollar Baby" and so many more.

There are so many films with performances that should be awarded collectively, not individually.