As the old losers' adage goes, "It's an honour just to be nominated" – but you won't hear that from Ryan Gosling, Tilda Swinton or Michael Fassbender, all of whom are on this year's list of non-nominated Oscar snubs.

The 84th Academy Award nominations were announced Tuesday morning, and within minutes movie buffs and internet commentators were crowing about the arguably-deserving films and stars that failed to garner nods.

Among them was Ryan Gosling, star of "Drive," "The Ides of March" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love," who was overlooked for the second year in a row after his role in the dark relationship drama "Blue Valentine" was ignored by the academy in 2011.

The news is sure to upset the Canuck heartthrob's loyal fans, who protested outside the People Magazine office last year when he was passed over for the 2011 Sexiest Man Alive title.

His "Drive" director, Danish auteur Nicolas Winding Refn, was also overlooked by Oscar. Despite receiving a 93-per-cent fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, "Drive" received only a single nomination for sound editing.

The George Clooney-directed "The Ides of March" was recognized solely in the best adapted screenplay category.

Hollywood heavyweight Tilda Swinton, who won an Oscar for her supporting role in 2007's "Michael Clayton" and was widely favoured for another nod this year, was also snubbed.

Her work in the film "We Need to Talk About Kevin," an unsettling drama about the mother of a teenage boy who goes on a school shooting spree, may have proven too dark for Oscar voters, but was recognized by both the British Independent Film Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Awards.

Michael Fassbender's captivating performance in the sex addiction drama "Shame" was likewise considered a shoe-in by many critics, but failed to make the cut.

Voters did however recognize career Oscar snub Gary Oldman with a first-time nomination for his roll in "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy."

Other notable absences were Leonardo DiCaprio for his role in the Clint Eastwood-directed "J. Edgar," a performance critics praised for outshining the lackluster biopic, and Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin," which was recognized only in the original score category.

Have your say: Which films or performances deserved to be nominated this year?