James Franco: Is This Any Way to Run an Oscar Campaign?

127 Hours Best Actor hopeful makes out for himself--brilliant! See who else is up and down in the race for the Academy Awards

James Franco doing drag is so earlier-this-fall. The Best Actor hopeful has moved onto making out with himself. 

Now, for sure this development makes for an interesting week. But, if you're an Oscar contender, does this make for a good week?

Are you kidding? This makes for a great week.

Franco's smooch with Franco was for placement alongside the likes of Natalie Portman, Michael Douglas and Javier Bardem in the upcoming New York Times Magazine's "Acting—thank you!" spread. Savvy.

And what makes the move all the more brilliant is that it coincided with the announcement that the 127 Hours star will return to General Hospital during the week of the Oscars (which, oh, by the way, he's cohosting).

Highbrow, lowbrow, plucked brow: Franco can—and will—do anything. 

For sheer spectacle, that is the best way to run an Oscar campaign.

Also: The Los Angeles Film Critics is out with its awards on Sunday (the group's members named Mulholland Drive the best film of the 2000s, so be aware that they care not a thing about being Oscar weather vanes); the New York Film Critics Circle weighs in on Monday; and, the Golden Globe nominations are out bright and early Tuesday morning.

Heading into the Globes who's up—and who's not? Found out in our new Red Carpet Power Index gallery.