No Fassbender or Gosling. In a year where both Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling were in at least two roles that could have netted either a statue, neither breakout actor had a single nomination. Can’t fault the choices of any of the five actors who did make the cut, though I might have put Fassbender in the spot occupied by Demián Bichir (“A Better Life”).

No ‘Drive’ at all. Not only do you leave out Gosling, but you completely shut “Drive” out of the major awards entirely – and it’s still the best movie I saw in 2011. Albert Brooks turned in the performance of his career, yet he doesn’t make the cut for Best Supporting Actor. Nicholas Refn is left out of the Best Director party, and well as Hossein Amini for Best Adapted Screenplay.

The whole Best Supporting Actor category. Not only missing Brooks, but including Nick Nolte (“Warrior”) and Max Von Sydow (“Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”). Conventional wisdom says that Christopher Plummer will win for “Beginners,” and deservedly so, but in this instance the honour of the nomination was wiped out.

The whole Best Documentary category. It was an amazing year for documentary filmmakers – apparently, too good. Three of the best documentaries from 2011 – “Being Elmo: A Puppeteer’s Journey,” “Senna” and “The Interrupters” weren’t even on the short list for consideration, and “Project Nim” didn’t make the cut. All four omissions are criminal.

Anywhere you see “The Tree Of Life” nominated other than Best Cinematography.

The 84th Academy Awards will be handed out Sunday, February 26.

Michael Fassbender. Following a highly-touted supporting role in Tarantino’s “Inglorious Basterds,” Fassbender turned in three top-notch performances: Erik Lehnsherr / Magneto in Bryan Singer’s better-than-expected “X-Men: First Class”; the sexual addiction poster child Brandon in “Shame”; and psychiatrist Carl Jung in David Cronenberg’s “A Dangerous Method.” Each role is unique, and allows viewers a look at different facets of Fassbender’s range. (And yes, you see a lot of Fassbender in “Shame.” One of the funniest conversations I had last year was discussing the prospects of a 3D “Shame” with Gwen Reyes and company at Crystal Decker’s birthday shindig. But let’s not run too far off the rails here. This is hard enough as it is.)

Jessica Chastain. Think Fassbender was everywhere in 2011? How about Chastain, who starred or had a featured supporting role in six different films: “The Help,” “Texas Killing Fields,” “Take Shelter,” “The Debt,” “The Tree Of Life,” and “Coriolanus.” 2011 was Chastain’s big coming-out party. Every time she was on-screen, the woman mesmerizes. She has pristine comic timing, an expressive pair of eyes that deserve their own screen credit, and a plethora of directions she could go as a leading actress.

Remakes / Reboots / Re-Imaginings / Gritty Redux. “Arthur”: $33 million. “Conan the Barbarian”: $21 million. “The Three Musketeers”: $20 million. “Fright Night”: $18 million. “The Thing”: $16.9 million. Sadly, these are the bottom-of-the-barrel notices – the abysmal “Smurfs” CG epic roped in $142 million, and the tepid note-for-note “Footloose” copy brought in $51 million. There was hope, though…

“Super 8,” “Attack The Block,” “Source Code,” “Hugo.” Four completely different films, with wildly different returns at the box office (with “Attack The Block” bringing in a paltry $1.2 million). All of them are what sprawling cinema was meant to be, and all were a delight to watch over and over.

The Texas Theatre. Indie cinema in Dallas doesn’t begin and end with the Angelika. With a slate of programming as wide and deep as the range of cinema itself, the Texas Theatre is a treat for anyone who considers themselves a fan of film. With in-house visits from the likes of Alex Cox, Crispin Glover, Harry Shearer and more on a regular basis, you should acquaint yourself with the Texas. Today.

South by Southwest 2011, DALLAS International Film Festival 2011, and Texas Frightmare Weekend 2011. The troika of Texas film festivals damn near killed me this year, between producing the WFAA daily recap show for DIFF and running around Austin to talk with the folks behind “Being Elmo,” “Wuss,” “Becoming Santa,” “Paul,” “Bridesmaids,” and “Surrogate Valentine.” Getting lit up on absinthe with Troy Duffy. Ann-Margret cooing at me, calling me an “absolute gem.” Gobsmacking Malcolm McDowell with a pair of the film-used chairs from the Korova Milk Bar. Was it all worth it? You betcha.

…and, with that, I’m out. This is my last article for Red Carpet Crash as its Editor-In-Chief. There are a hundred reasons why I’ve made the decision to step back from the position, and the site I’ve strove to build as a premier entertainment resource for Texans. The primary reason is: time. I need to spend a lot more time with my lovely, patient goddess of a wife, and focusing on my “day job.” I’m not leaving to start up another web site, or other hair-brained project that’ll soak up all of my time. Yet.

There are a legion of writers, publicists, actors, directors, theater staffers and critics I need to thank for the last 30 months at Red Carpet Crash. Rather than do it publicly, and get lambasted for leaving someone out (which will happen – my brain is addled – have you met me?), please know that the people I need to thank the most are the readers of RCC. You Crashers are the reason we got into this in the first place, the ones who packed out the Big Gold Statue parties at the Lakewood and Angelika. (No BGS party this year, by the way. Cease-and-desist letters are nasty things to get in the mail.)

The Red Carpet Crash staff, circa March 2011 at the Return of the Big Gold Statue Party: Mark Walters (not a staffer, but a Crasher nevertheless); Matt Mungle (also not a RCC staffer, but my co-host on Reel Geniuses); Steve Norwood; Crystal Decker; Jenny Sherman; Chiccywood!; Joe Lopez; Devin Pike; Aaron Davidson; Mark Harris

Red Carpet Crash will continue along, with Mark Harris carrying the banner for the site. We’re expanding, with events in San Antonio complimenting our strong presence in Dallas / Fort Worth and Austin.

Until the next time you see me around, remember the sage wisdom of Dr. Buckaroo Banzai: “No matter where you go, there you are.” Now, go see a movie in a theater.

The final parody trailer had Pepe in a “really reaching for it” gag, “Breaking Prawn.” However, someone finally figured out how to get the Twilight into the Muppets, with the latest three posters for the flick (click for larger versions):

The Dallas stop on the tour, at the Palladium Ballroom (Google Map) on Wednesday, November 9, features appearances by Ashley Greene (Alice Cullen), Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale), Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Hale), Kellan Lutz (Emmett Cullen), and Elizabeth Reaser (Esme Cullen). The event will also feature a performance by “Breaking Dawn” soundtrack artist Christina Perri.

Here’s the details, verbatim, on how to score tickets to the event. Pay attention!

Tickets are free and will be available beginning at 10:00 am local time on Saturday, November 5th at each event location. Tickets are limited to two per person and are non-transferable. Names must be provided for the pair of tickets upon pick up. Photo ID must be shown upon arrival at the event (school ID is acceptable) and guests must arrive at the event with the individual who picked up the tickets. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis, until venue capacity is reached.

“The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 1)” opens in theaters November 16.

In a career that’s spanned 25 years, Fishbone is an influential band hailing from Los Angeles that combines ska, punk, and funk into an explosive punch. They burst onto the national scene in 1985 with “Party At Ground Zero,” and enjoyed their greatest chart success with the songs “Everyday Sunshine” and “Sunless Saturday.”

Featuring interviews with Flea, Gwen Stefani, Ice-T, Perry Farrell, Branford Marsalis, George Clinton, Tim Robbins, Gogol Bordello, ?uestlove, and others, the film “Everyday Sunshine” traces the band’s history, influence, and struggle as individualistic, genre-blending artists up against an unforgiving music industry that threatens to pass them by.

Angelo Jones and Norwood Fisher will be present at the Texas to talk about the movie, along with co-directors Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler. Devin Pike will moderate the Q&A.

Tickets are onsale now through the Texas Theatre web site.

That’s why we’re so excited to announce that we’ve teamed up with Studio Movie Grill in Lewisville to present Muppet Movie Madness. The first three Saturdays in November, we want you to experience three of the most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational films on the big screen, on 35mm prints… for free:

• Saturday, November 5: The Muppet Movie
• Saturday, November 12: The Great Muppet Caper
• Saturday, November 19: The Muppets Take Manhattan

All Muppet Movie Madness screenings are at 4:30 pm at Studio Movie Grill Lewisville (1600 S. Stemmons Fwy @ Corporate Dr., Lewisville, TX 75067), and they’re absolutely free.

In addition, you’ll be able to walk away with great giveaways from Disney’s “The Muppets,” in theaters on Thursday, November 23. We’re also awarding reserved seats for our exclusive screening of “The Muppets,” so you’ll get to see the new adventures of Kermit, Animal and the gang before anyone else.

Get your free tickets for the Muppet Movie Madness series by RSVP-ing at the links above, today.