The film might have picked up a nod for Best Film, but that will come as slim consolation to Argo director Ben Affleck, who somehow missed out on a nod, with Benh Zeitlin and David O Russell surprisingly getting nominatins (as well as Michael Haneke, to a lesser extent) in his place. Zeitlin is a great nomination, and Silver Linings Playbook was great, but Affleck's work on Argo was exceptional, both in front of and behind the camera, and it is a major shock not to see that recognised. Could it be that the Academy want to reward Spielberg for his life's work by giving him a Best Director award for arguably his most politically and historically important film? The conspiracy theorist in me says yes, and who ever wanted to get in the way of a good theory? The fact that Affleck was snubbed probably suggests that we won't be seeing Argo walk away with the Best Film Oscar, and at this stage both that award, and the Best Director gong will likely go the way of Steven Spielberg for Lincoln, unless the Academy uncharacteristically throws a curve-ball in the voting.