The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is providing a unique way to prepare for Hollywood's biggest night.

The museum hosts the seventh annual "Oscar Tune-Up" throughout February in its Noble Theater, 415 Couch. Movie lovers can view some of last year's most talked-about films, nominated in more than a dozen categories, including best acting, screenwriting, documentary, foreign language and short film.

The festivities will kick off 7:30 p.m. Thursday with 2008's record-breaking blockbuster "The Dark Knight."

Brian Hearn, museum film curator, said he doesn't usually choose to show major box-office hits like the Batman sequel, but this year he made some exceptions.

"'The Dark Knight' is not a film we would normally screen " a big Hollywood blockbuster," Hearn said. "We did because of the unique situation with Heath Ledger and the fact that the movie made almost a billion dollars."

He said the tune-up is a great way to learn more about the nominees before the Academy Awards are handed out on Feb. 22.

"If you go to Oscar parties, it's fun to have seen all the nominees so you can vote intelligently about what you think might win," he said. "It's a chance to bring back some films that maybe blew through town a little too fast or to take a second look at something."

The museum will also show several animated films, including three screenings of the highly successful Pixar movie "WALL-E" on Valentine's Day. Also showing are "Man on Wire," "The Visitor," "Tropic Thunder" and "Rachel Getting Married."

For additional information on film listings and times, call 236-3100. "James Lovett