Casual moviegoers finally have a reason to watch the Academy Awards ceremony.

When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to expand its Best Picture category from five nominees to 10, many hoped it would lead to a more diverse and audience-friendly awards show. They got their wish, and it only desecrated the Oscar image a little bit.

The expanded category gives blockbusters “Avatar,” “The Blind Side,” “District 9,””Inglourious Basterds” and “Up” a chance to compete against the smaller, award-friendlier films, “An Education,” “The Hurt Locker,” “Precious,” “A Serious Man” and “Up in the Air.”

Voters should be commended for such solid choices in the first year of this 10-nominee experiment. “Up” becomes only the second animated feature to ever compete for Best Picture, and surprise nominee “District 9” proves that Academy voters are finally beginning to understand the craft of science-fiction. Yeah, yeah, “Avatar” proves that too.

The only real misfit here is “The Blind Side,” a movie with almost no Oscar precursors to its credit. Most of its buzz has circled star Sandra Bullock, who is now the likely frontrunner in the Best Actress category.

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Science-fiction isn’t all about space battles, lightsabers and really tall Smurfs. Occasionally, filmmakers can utilize futuristic settings to tell fascinating stories of personal struggle.

Such is the case with “Moon,” a haunting indie sci-fi starring Sam Rockwell as the sole astronaut working a three-year stint on a remote moon base. This is Rockwell’s show, with only small roles reserved for other humans. Kevin Spacey provides the nurturing voice of the base’s computer system.

Don’t you dare watch the theatrical trailer or read the film’s synopsis.The less known about the twists and turns in “Moon,” the better.

The essential info: Rockwell’s character is only days away from returning home to Earth. When he crashes his lunar rover on a routine assignment, he discovers something completely mind-blowing.

Directed with a sure hand by Duncan Jones, “Moon” lacks the requisite action sequences of flashier sci-fi tales, but the script remains stuffed with tension, especially as the lonely astronaut discovers the secrets of his lunar home. The terrific performance by Rockwell makes you forget he’s the only one onscreen for 90+ minutes.

Taking on nothing less than the significance of human existence, “Moon” stays with the viewer not because of revolutionary special effects, but because of thoughtful, exhilarating storytelling. Please, please, please, don’t read any else about it. Just see it.

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