For us movie-lovers, this time of year can feel overwhelming, what with all the critics groups announcing their awards contenders long before we get to the Oscar nominations. To help you catch up, here's the second of a two-part series on those contenders that are already available on DVD. Previously, I featured the indies. Right here: the studio films.

What's that? More than one summer blockbuster has ended up with a crapload of notice from critics' groups and other awards organizations? Amazing, but true. Two of them stand out:

Wall-E
The little cleaner-upper robot is still cleaning up ... awards, that is. The Los Angeles film critics have named it their best film of the year, animated or not. The British mag Sight and Sound named it one of the best films of the year. The Hollywood Foreign Press has nominated it for a Golden Globe for Best Animated Film. So has the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA). The Alliance of Women Film Journalists (of which I'm a member) as well as the Austin film critics and the Phoenix film critics have named it their Best Animated Film of the year (and the AWFJ gave it their Best Original Screenplay award too). The point is: it's a damn good film. If you missed it this summer, what are you waiting for? It looks great on DVD and Blu-ray.

The Dark Knight
Oh, the accolades! Most are for Heath Ledger, for his terrifying turn as the Joker. He's gotten Best Supporting Actor noms from the Globes and the BFCA, and wins as Best Supporting Actor from the Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin critics' groups as well as the AWFJ. The L.A. critics also named the film its runner-up for Best Film and Christopher Nolan its runner-up for Best Director. The BFCA has given it further noms for Best Picture, Best Ensemble, Best Director, and Best Action Movie. The Austin critics named Nolan Best Director, and gave their adapted screenplay award to Nolan and his co-writer, his brother Jonathan. It's crazy. This is a comic-book movie. And it's getting waaaay more attention from the critics at year-end than I was anticipating. That Oscar for Ledger is looking more and more likely.

And don't miss these flicks either:

In Bruges
Remember the hit-man black comedy from early this year? The Globes are, with nominations for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy, and for co-stars Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson up against each other for Best Actor, Musical or Comedy. The Phoenix critics named it their Best Overlooked Film of 2008, and gave writer-director Martin McDonagh their award for the year's Breakout Behind the Camera as well as their award for Best Original Screenplay.

Mamma Mia!
The Globes love this one as well, with noms for Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy and for Meryl Streep for Best Actress, Musical or Comedy.

Tropic Thunder
Oh yes, this goofy send-up of Hollywood excess gets love from the Globes, with nominations for both Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. in the Best Supporting Actor category. The BFCA also nominated Downey Jr. for Best Supporting Actor.

Kung Fu Panda
It's been nominated for Best Animated Film by both the Globes and the BFCA.

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MaryAnn Johanson, a mocking wench (email me)

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