Nominations for the 81st Academy Awards were announced Thursday. Cue the grumbling. Now, I’m generally a fan of the Oscars. There have been plenty of miscues over the years (“Crash,” anyone?), but the Academy has been consistent enough in awarding the best films that the Oscars retain some degree of legitimacy – unlike, say, that one music awards show.

Anyway, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” led the charge this year with 13 nominations, “Slumdog Millionaire” picked up ten, and “The Dark Knight” and “Milk” grabbed eight each. And like most years, the Academy got a lot of things right. And a few things wrong.

What Oscar got right

The Comeback Kids

2008 saw the full-force return of a couple of Hollywood prodigals to the limelight in a pair of performances that would have been hard for Oscar to ignore.

Robert Downey Jr. had beaten his drug problems years ago, but with “Iron Man” and “Tropic Thunder”, Downey is finally back as one of the coolest actors around. His hilarious portrayal of Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus in the uproarious “Tropic Thunder” garnered him a well-deserved nod for best supporting actor.

Overcoming abuse charges, DUIs and a string of increasingly crappy roles, Mickey Rourke rose above punchline status with his emotionally gripping turn as washed-up pro wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Wrestler.” His best actor nomination could be a serious contender against Sean Penn’s previously thought lock for “Milk.”

Character Actors Get Their Day

I’m thrilled by two best actor nominations for two veterans who have built careers on mostly supporting roles – Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon” and Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor.” Langella is the consummate actor, and his searing, yet sympathetic performance as Richard Nixon makes the film.

Jenkins is brilliant as mild-mannered Walter Vale in the little-seen “The Visitor.” I was worried that he would be forgotten (the film came out all the way back in April), but his nomination alone assures me that at least some of the Academy voters aren’t solely focused on December’s Oscar bait.

The Little Movie That Could

The game show plot of “Slumdog Millionaire” doesn’t immediately conjure up images of cinematic greatness, but Danny Boyle’s intensely entertaining and thoughtful film transcends its rudimentary parts. It’s a visual spectacle that deals with the most basic, and the grandest human ideas – love and destiny. It’s certainly a frontrunner in the “Best Picture” race, and will very likely be the first best director win for the richly deserving Boyle.

What Oscar got wrong

Best Actress Mix-ups

Not to disrespect any of the fine performances that were nominated (Meryl Streep’s in “Doubt” especially. I don’t want that scary sister on my bad side), but there were a few glaring omissions in the best actress category. I find it hard to believe that Sally Hawkins’s effervescent and effortless turn as Poppy in Mike Leigh’s “Happy-Go-Lucky” was ignored by the Academy.

Doesn’t Make My Day

Perennial Oscar favorite Clint Eastwood somehow got completely passed over in a year where his two films were some of his best in recent memory. “Gran Torino” had some script issues, but Eastwood’s grizzled, surprisingly humorous portrayal of racist Korean War vet Walt Kowalski was definitely one of the best of the year.

Dark Days

“The Dark Knight” has thrilled audiences to the tune of close to $1 billion worldwide, and, barring a rather vocal minority, the fans have gotten their money’s worth. The film, on the other hand, appears to support the idea that a box office smash doesn’t usually equate to (and maybe even hurts the chances of) award recognition. While the film garnered eight nominations, it’s a somewhat misleading total, as all but one – Heath Ledger’s well-earned supporting nod – came in technical categories. Shouldn’t Christopher Nolan have gotten a best director nomination?

I’m sure the fanboys will be up in arms all the way until the Feb. 22 ceremony. This time, they’re right.