Oscar Nominees: Best Film Editing

My predictions: 3/5, missing “Life of Pi” and “Silver Linings Playbook”
My ballot: Come back next week!
The nominees: Argo, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty

There’s something about a film’s pacing that, to me, earns it a place in this category. That doesn’t suggest that “Life of Pi,” which was good but overlong sometimes, and “Silver Linings Playbook,” which was engaging but occasionally uneven, should make the cut. “Argo” and “Zero Dark Thirty” definitely qualify, and it’s a relief that their directorial snubs didn’t extend to this category. “Lincoln” was always going to be here, so I guess that rounds it out. A complete shut-out for “The Dark Knight Rises” is lamentable, and it would have been fun to see “Skyfall” here, especially based on all its other nominations. I’m surprised, given the other mentions this year, that “Django Unchained” isn’t here, and also that “Les Miserables” couldn’t place here as well as a few other key races.

My current bet to win: Let’s hope it goes to Zero Dark Thirty.