The reason I trust these reactions more than those from fans of DREAMGIRLS or THE PRODUCERS is that people like Pete Hammond, Kris Tapley and, especially, Dave Karger (well known film critics and Oscar bloggers) saw it and were as wowed by the film as the fans. Tapley had been very skeptical about the movie throughout the year, often criticizing what he called a "claustrophobic" feel to the movie and after seeing it, he says he cried and thinks all the actors in the ensemble deserve Oscar recognition. Plus, the film has had amazing buzz for a while now, these early reactions only confirm that.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"