Underrated/Overrated

UNDERRATED

The return of original song performances: Granted, these musical interludes could be bland and contribute to the Oscar telecast’s bloated run time, but who can forget Elliott Smith’s intimate “Miss Misery” from 1998 or Björk’s “I’ve Seen It All” in 2001? While it’s not terribly exciting to consider the annual offering from Randy Newman this year, Florence Welch subbing for the drowsy-voiced Dido in A.R. Rahman’s “If I Rise” should easily outperform yet another montage.

The short films awards: They’re not unlike the short story, and they deserve more exposure than an annual Oscar night mention. While everyone who saw “Toy Story 3” saw Pixar’s fizzy animated contender “Day and Night,” it’s also worth seeking out the vividly impressionistic “Madagascar, carnet de voyage” as well as compact delights “Wish 143” and “God of Love” on the live-action front. Seldom does a short attention span feel so rewarding.

OVERRATED

The shelf life of best picture: As the debate over the Oscars’ marquee honor mercifully draws to a close, remember that today’s big winner is often tomorrow’s trivia answer, followed by “Wait, that actually won?” It may seem hard to imagine a collective forehead-slap coming out of a win by “127 Hours,” “The Social Network” or “The King’s Speech,” but only time will tell whether the academy really honored the year’s best film or just another “Out of Africa.”

‘Old Hollywood glamour’ on the red carpet: Another year, another parade of style watchers lauding Oscar arrivals who’ve bucked all the trends and brought a “classic” look to the red carpet. Frankly, this feels like just well-dressed shorthand for “boring,” considering glamour is about as unexpected at the Oscars as thanking your agent in an acceptance speech. Think of the excitement if this were finally the year for paint-spattered overalls and denim jumpsuits.

— Chris Barton