Pro: The closure of a genre franchise that shifted the Oscar landscape has to be good for something, right? And while "The Dark Knight" may not itself have landed in the major categories, "The Dark Knight Rises" could drag a lot of goodwill for Christopher Nolan (a two-time screenwriting nominee) and brother Jonathan. It's a vast epic loved by many and the campaign is already in full, expensive gear.

Con: But let's be honest here. It was mostly considered a lesser achievement than its predecessor and writing is probably the last place anyone would expect it to pop up in the race. And in the respected blockbuster realm, films like "The Dark Knight Rises" and "Prometheus" are having their thunder stolen by "Skyfall."

- Kristopher Tapley