With the Oscars creeping up 💟on us like a ninja waiting to strike (albeit a ninja in a tuxedo carrying a teleprompter and… this metaphor was working much better when we started it), it only makes sense that you&r🌄squo;d want to keep track of which movies are garnering the critical buzz among the smaller, regional American awards.

Now,🃏 while no critics’ awards can be a true pointer to what will scoღop the golden baldies, they do at least help you start to see some of the more likely nominees.

No Country For Old Men is grabbing plenty of attention, winning Best Film at the New York Critics Circle Awards, while the Coens nabbed Best Director/Screenplay and Javier Bardem scooped Bestℱ Supporting 🔴Actor.

But wait! There Will Be Blood, from Paul Thomas Anderson, was also on the NY Circle List (for Cinematographer), and it’s been scoring its own Best Picture wins at the likes of the New York Online Critics (tied with ♎The Diving Bell And The Butterfly), while Daniel Day Lewis took Best Actor and Robert Elswit scooped another Best Cinemat⛄ography. And Blood also scooped the top prize at the Washington, D.C. Critics’ ceremony.

Julie Christie, meanwhile, should likeܫly prepare to be nominated fo꧂r her role in Away From Her after getting the Best Actress award from all three groups.

We’ll keep following the awards season and🦄 if you win any money from your Oscar pool, you ow🌄e us big time…