With the exception of Michael Clayton, last year's Best Picture nominees were all outstanding. Not as impressive this year.

I agree with whip about last year's.

I haven't seen any of the 2009 nominees yet, so withholding judgment.

Last years were the best. I saw all of them except Michael Clayton and they were great

i think last year's were sadder. i know that sounds like a really lame assessment, but - with the exception of juno - there wasn't a moment of feelgoodedness among them. this year's, however, slightly more of that category.

i've seen all ten. and the five from this year might stand as five of my favorite movies of the decade.

I think it's pretty even, but I voted for this year's just because I loved Slumdog Millionare so much, and Atonement was THE worst movie ever.

I think this year's edge out last year's by a bit.

This year's seem slightly better than last's. Slumdog and Milk are top notch.

Last year was better, by far. Nothing from this year can even come close to the amazingness of No Country or There Will Be Blood.

I've only seen 2 of last year's films, Atonement and Juno, and 2 of this year's, Slumdog Millionaire and Milk.
But they're all four fabulous films.

i think that they are about the same. you can't really compare them since they aren't even in similar genres for the most part. i really enjoyed a lot of the ones from last year, as was the case this year.

I've seen nine of the ten movies, and my personal feeling is that while last year's movies might have been just as "good" as this year's, the movies this year have been far more enjoyable to watch. Juno aside, all of the Oscar movies last year were so violent and/or depressing. It's so nice to watch so many movies this year that have nothing to do with people shooting at each other!

As a whole, I think all the movies nominated this year are good. However, for both years, the best movies came from last year (No Country and There Will Be Blood). The others nominated last year were just eh.

They're about the same...they are equally terrible.

I think last year's nominees are definitely better. Last year was a stronger year for movies, in my opinion. I've seen all of them this year and last, and think Milk was wonderful, and the others were just all around good films, but not blow-your-mind great. Button and Slumdog (while beautiful) are way overrated... sorry...

I haven't seen any of this years' nominees, but I've seen 4 of the 5 from last year, and they were all great.

I think "There Will Be Blood" will end up as one of the great movies of all time, and "No Country For Old Men" was equally incredible. I loved "Milk" and "Benjamin Button," but they were just solidly good films, as someone else already said.

I think the mere presence of There Will be Blood and No Country for Old Men – two of the greatest movies of the 21st century – sets last year’s nominees head and shoulders above this year's.

last year i enjoyed all except for NO Country for Old Men, and even it didn't make me want to go to sleep. This year I only like Benji Button, but will go see Doubt and maybe i'll like it too.