Mt. Oscar

Mt. Oscar: To grab the brass ring -- or in this case the Golden O -- wrap yourself in raves and pack lots of buzz. This week’s altitude readings are by Rachel Abramowitz, Geoff Boucher, Elena Howe, Tim Swanson and John Horn.

PEAKING

MILKING IT: After Variety ran what many saw as an embargo-breaking review of “Milk,” others instantly started popping up on the Internet. So why didn’t Focus go ballistic? Probably because the notices were so positive. Good for “Milk,” not so good for studios trying to enforce review dates.

CLIMBING

BATTLE OF THE WEEPIES: Do tears guarantee an Oscar victory? So far this year, such acting contenders as Angelina Jolie (“Changeling”) and Anne Hathaway (“Rachel Getting Married”) have been unleashing the waterworks in their quest for Oscar gold. Thank goodness for waterproof mascara.

AUSSIE MYSTERY: We hear Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman have a movie coming out in two weeks. It’s called “Australia” or “New Zealand” or “Tasmania” or something. We’re not sure since it seems to be stashed in an editing bay somewhere.

AT BASE CAMP

IS THAT A YES? “Dark Knight” director Chris Nolan clearly has his druthers but plays it cool when asked if the late Heath Ledger should be nominated for his role as Joker. “He rose to [the] challenge so admirably that any expression of people being excited or moved by his performance is a wonderful thing. Whatever form that takes.”

A REAL HIT: Hollywood loves comebacks -- both by characters and the actors who play them -- so Mickey Rourke may have a nomination in a headlock for “The Wrestler.” The real question is, would this be the most violent contending performance since Pacino was robbed of a “Scarface” nomination?

LOOKING FOR A SHERPA

GOT BUZZ? The premiere of “Doubt” at the AFI Film Festival was mysteriously subdued. Was it because it didn’t play in the Cinerama Dome? Was it the lateness of its inclusion in the series? Hard to say, but it felt like attending a symposium rather than an anticipated Oscar contender.

HEAD-SCRATCHING: We didn’t mind looking up the word “synecdoche” because we’re such big Charlie Kaufman and Philip Seymour Hoffman fans. Now, with “Synecdoche, N.Y.’s” confusing plot and lackluster box office, we’re regretting that wasted time and we’re pulling for Hoffman in “Doubt.”

SWITCHEROO: Poor Viggo Mortensen’s big Oscar movie, “The Road,” got pushed out of contention by big shot Harvey Weinstein, and now the actor’s little movie, “Good,” is being pushed into the season by ThinkFilm -- a distributor that was on life support just a few weeks back.