People Who Deserved Oscar Nominations but Didn't Get Them

The Oscars are coming up fast, and everybody has their own suspicions of who will win. However there were some actors and other artists who should be in the running for that golden statue, but aren't. It happens every year, there just aren't enough slots to honor everybody who should be. Here's some of the best work that isn't up for an Academy Award.

Emma Stone - "Easy A" - Actress in a Leading Role
This was probably too "light" a piece of entertainment to be on the Academy's radar, but the clever variation of "The Scarlet Letter" set in a high school is clever and funny throughout. The witty script would have been wasted without an actress who could carry the film almost entirely on her shoulders, and Stone made it look easy. Most importantly she exuded an intelligence that is lacking in so many female protagonists.

Jon Hamm - "The Town" - Actor in a Supporting Role
A great film that was passed over in nearly every category, but it was the work of "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm that should have been able to get a nod from the Academy. Playing a dedicated law enforcement agent who manages to be ruthless without going over the top, Hamm helps balance the film against the criminal protagonists.

Chloe Moretz - "Let Me In" - Actress in a Supporting Role
Horror movies are the red-headed step child of Hollywood so this snub isn't exactly shocking. While not quite up to the masterwork of the Swedish original, this managed to still be a heartfelt and beautiful take on vampires. Moretz played a vampire of unknown age, forever trapped in the body of a young girl. It's not easy for a young actress to bring the sense of age and experience needed to pull this part off, but she does it in a way that helps give the film its heartbreaking power.

Christopher Nolan - "Inception" - Director
"Inception" received a decent number of nominations, but this was one category where it was passed over. The sheer logistics of the projects, being able to shoot and assemble scenes that were three or four layers deep within dreams is a monumental accomplishment. The fact that the film even made sense is a tribute to the strength of the directing. Add the distinct visual artistry and pure enjoyment of the film and it's a bit of a worrying trend that the Academy isn't given Nolan his due (he was snubbed for his work on "The Dark Knight" as well.)

Daft Punk - "Tron: Legacy" - Original Music
Some may have noticed that TV spots for this film seemed to push the soundtrack a lot, often having "Music by Daft Punk" appear in big letters right above the rating at the very end. There's good reason for this. Thanks to their knowledge of electronic sound this duo created music that was not only fitting but managed to be epic as well. It's like "The Dark Knight" soundtrack had a baby with a synthesizer, absolutely perfect for the film and just great music on its own.

"Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" - Visual Effects
Given the lengths that director Edgar Wright and his visual effects team went to in order to create a look for this film that both emulated video games and comic books it's a crime that they were spurned. Everything from words for sound effects appearing on screen (such as "bing bong" for the door bell) to villains being reduced to coins when they were defeated, everything added up to create a unique visual experience that is very much of the modern era.