Bad Academy Awards puns are flying. There’s the “Brokeback backlash” ... the little film that “crashed” the party ... the one about “Brokeback Mountain” peaking too early.

While the cowboy love story “Brokeback Mountain” has been established as a solid favorite for the best-picture Oscar. The ensemble drama “Crash” has an ardent following and some late-season momentum that could make it a surprise winner.

When there’s a clear Oscar front-runner, that film almost always goes home with the big trophy, but upsets do happen and late-surging films have pulled off come-from-behind wins.