Michael Sheen, right, wasn't nominated for an Oscar for Frost/Nixon - unlike his co-star Frank Langella, left. (Universal Studios)

Alfred Hitchcock never won the Oscar for best directing; neither did Stanley Kubrick. But Kevin Costner has one sitting on his mantle for Dances with Wolves.

Trying to make sense of the Academy's boneheaded moves is a futile exercise. Oscar voting is a mysterious process – kind of like the election of a pope, but it climaxes with a glitzy, four-hour TV event instead of a puff of smoke. The Academy has about 6,000 members, but never reveals exactly who they are. We do know this much: there are studio-sponsored campaigns on behalf of certain projects and actors; Academy voters aren't too fond of comedies; and they really, really like Meryl Streep.

It's an imperfect system that coughs up a few clunkers each year. Of course, arguing with the Academy's often conservative, "life-affirming" choices is part of the fun. As for the disappointed artists who were slighted this year, they should remember that they're in extremely good company (see: Hitchcock, Kubrick). Here are, in my opinion, the most egregious snubs of 2009.

Actor in a supporting role

Snubbie nominees:

Kevin Bacon, Frost/Nixon

Ralph Fiennes: In Bruges and The Duchess

Dev Patel, Slumdog Millionaire

And the Snubbie goes to:

Kevin Bacon, Frost/Nixon

Fiennes dazzles in two very different villain roles, while Patel makes his character's improbable romantic quest seem believable. But Bacon delivers a classic supporting performance as Richard Nixon's aide Jack Brennan, the fiercely protective marine who tries to steer the ex-president away from confessing any Watergate wrongdoing. Brennan is loyalty personified, but it's not blind loyalty; he understands Nixon's flaws all too well, and thereby plays a key role in humanizing the disgraced leader. It's high time Bacon got nominated, if only for the delicious sneer his character unleashes on David Frost (Michael Sheen) during the talk show host's initial meeting with Tricky Dick.

Actress in a supporting role

The Snubbie nominees:

Rosemarie DeWitt, Rachel Getting Married

Rebecca Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

Debra Winger played Abby in the film Rachel Getting Married. (Bob Vergara/Sony Pictures Classics/Mongrel Media)

And the Snubbie goes to:

Debra Winger, Rachel Getting Married

Winger wins for her unsentimental turn as a mother who can barely tolerate attending her daughter's wedding, thanks to the still-gaping wounds of a family tragedy that took place years before. It's a haunting, economical performance; in just a few minutes of screen time, she conveys both heartbreak and the emotional brutality of someone who has essentially disowned her children, without actually telling them. DeWitt also deserves praise for her work as the "good" daughter in the same film. Rebecca Hall delivers a nicely restrained performance in Vicky Cristina Barcelona as a young American on a life-altering Spanish vacation. Like DeWitt, she shines even though she's surrounded by actors in much more ostentatious roles.

Actor in a leading role

The Snubbie nominees:

Clint Eastwood, Gran Torino

Colin Farrell, In Bruges

Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon

And the Snubbie goes to:

Michael Sheen, Frost/Nixon

There was some speculation that Eastwood would finally nab his first acting Oscar for playing the crusty Korean War vet in Gran Torino, but, once again, he'll have to find solace in his multiple directing awards. Farrell delivers his best work yet as a confused hitman killing time in Belgium, but that fine film's comedic elements probably disqualified him from consideration.

Sheen's is the biggest snub in this category. His character – British TV host David Frost – doesn't have the gravitas or tragic qualities of his nemesis, Richard Nixon; but Sheen absolutely nails the desperation of a guy trying to salvage his career with an outlandish Hail Mary pass, and then realizes he's way over his head in a drama he doesn't quite understand. It's probably because of his character's Austin Powers-style wardrobe and dating habits that Sheen isn't getting the love he deserves from the Academy.

Actress in a leading role:

The Snubbie nominees:

Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Kristin Scott Thomas, I've Loved You So Long

Kate Winslet, Revolutionary Road

And the Snubbie goes to:

Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky

Sally Hawkins was snubbed for her endearing performance in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky. (Simon Mein/Maple Pictures) Like Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married, Thomas delivers great work as a woman who returns to her family after spending time in an institution. But her performance is much quieter than Hathaway's, and it happened in a French art-house film rather than a high-profile release from Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme. Hence the snub. Given her Golden Globe win for her role as a suburban housewife suffocating in the 1950s, and her status as an industry darling, Kate Winslet's brush-off for Revolutionary Road is a shocker. But she was nominated in this category for The Reader, which should be some consolation.

In terms of quality and pure originality, the travesty here is that Hawkins failed to get a nod for her work as Poppy, the effervescent school teacher in Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky. The best actress nominees went to some dark places this year; Hawkins plays someone who has a perpetually sunny outlook, and manages to make her compelling. Now that's acting.

Directing/Best picture

The Snubbie nominees:

Darren Aronofsky, The Wrestler

Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

Sam Mendes, Revolutionary Road

And the Snubbies go to:

Darren Aronofsky and The Wrestler

Treating these categories separately would be silly – my feeling is that the snubbed directors helmed the snubbed films. Given recent events, you could argue that Christopher Nolan deserves an Oscar simply for agreeing to work with Christian Bale on an ongoing basis. Some fans have expressed their displeasure that the Batman sequel has received no major nominations other than Heath Ledger's, but movies based on comic books have never done well with the Academy. Mendes and Revolutionary Road seemed to have strong early Oscar buzz, but it waned once people realized the film felt like a reheated combo of Mad Men and Mendes' other pot shot at suburbia, American Beauty. And who wants to see Kate and Leo rip each other apart on well-manicured lawns rather than fall in love on a sinking ship?

Director Darren Aronofsky, left, with actor Mickey Rourke, who stars in Aronofsky's The Wrestler. (Frazer Harrison/AFI/Getty Images)

Aronofsky clearly deserved a best director nomination, if for no other reason than coaxing that miraculous performance out of Mickey Rourke. Maybe the magnitude of that comeback prevented the Academy from noticing that it occurred inside an amazing film — one that eschewed Aronofsky's usual frenetic editing. With its taut script and gritty indie feel, The Wrestler explores the world of pro wrestling's minor leagues without a hint of condescension, spinning a slow, stirring valediction for a loveable guy who made some bad choices. Take that, Benjamin Button!

Bonus snub for The Wrestler: Best Song

There's only one nominee in this category, and it's a no-brainer: Bruce Springsteen. There's been much speculation about this slight toward the Boss, but no one knows exactly why it happened. It's not clear if the title song was disqualified because it played over the end credits, and not within the film. No matter, it's still a moronic decision, yet another example of the Academy shooting itself in the foot, ankle and shin. The song – written as a favour for Rourke — is reminiscent of another brooding movie theme by Springsteen, the equally sublime Streets of Philadelphia, for which he won an Oscar in 1994.

Are there any films or acting performances that you feel have been unjustly ignored by the Academy this year? If so, post a comment below.

The Academy Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on Feb. 22.

Greig Dymond writes about the arts for CBC.ca.