Oscars 2013: Best Picture Nomination - Skyfall Vs. The Dark Knight Rises

By T.J. Barnard /

Around this time every year, the collective Hollywood scene - not to mention cinephiles the world over - wait on the edge of their seats to hear the nominations for what is considered the most important movie-related event in the world: The Academy Awards. The Oscar, of course, is considered the most prestigious award in cinematic history: the absolute pinnacle of movie-based creative achievement, if you will, and a prize that almost everyone navigating the Hollywood scene would love to get their hands on. Some have tried and failed on many occasions, whereas others have managed multiple wins. Though there's always an excited buzz in the air as the nominations loom closer (who will get nominated and who will get left by the wayside?), this year might've offered up what is arguably the most difficult-to-predict set of potential nominees we've ever seen. That's great, of course, because what good are the Oscars if we can't show our joy and distain for the movies we love and despise? And with talk of both Skyfall and The Dark Knight Rises as contenders for a Best Picture nomination, excitement levels are blisteringly high. But which of these two billon dollar blockbuster smashes deserves a Best Picture nomination the most? For what it's worth, here's our thoughts on the subject.