Last year's best song award went to The Weary Kind, from the Jeff Bridges music drama Crazy Heart.

BBC: Oscars 2011: best song contenders unveiled

John Cusack brings an affecting, lightly parodistic ardor to the role of a romantic, prematurely world-weary student the kind of character who could have thought up this cockeyed pessimist of a movie.

NEWYORKER: Shadows and Fog

There's not even a running back or wide receiver worthy of the top overall pick, someone with the kind of swagger that wins over fans weary of losing.

WSJ: This year's draft heavy on size, light on glamour