Is 'Argo' on a stealth mission to spirit the Best Picture Oscar away from the epics that have been zealously guarding the prize as if it were already theirs?

After Sunday's Golden Globes, with its major upset wins for Ben Affleck's spy thriller in both the Best Drama and Best Director categories, you have to wonder whether the Oscars might not follow suit.

True, the film can't win a Best Director Oscar, since Affleck wasn't even nominated. Indeed, after the Oscar nominations were announced on Thursday, "Argo" seemed like an also-ran, upstaged by the likes of "Lincoln," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Life of Pi," "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Master." But Sunday's wins for "Argo" -- following similar surprise wins in the same categories on Thursday night at the Critics' Choice Awards -- suggest that there's a secret groundswell brewing for the movie about a fake movie.

Still, the odds are slim that "Argo" can win an Academy Award for Best Picture without even having been nominated for Best Director. Last time that happened was 23 years ago, when "Driving Miss Daisy" took the top prize.

"Argo" could also win for its screenplay or its supporting actor (Alan Arkin), though it lost to "Django Unchained" in both categories at the Globes, in two of Sunday's other big upsets. With his Globe win, Quentin Tarantino is now the frontrunner for a Best Original Screenplay Oscar for "Django," and Globe winner Christoph Waltz is now the man to beat for his supporting turn in Tarantino's pre-Civil War epic.

Other Globe wins tended to confirm what pundits had already been saying about the momentum gathering in some categories. "Lincoln" star Daniel Day-Lewis was the frontrunner going in; he's still the frontrunner after his Globe prize for Best Actor in a Drama. Same with Jessica Chastain of "Zero Dark Thirty," whose Globe for Best Actress in a Drama confirms her pack-leader status at the Oscars. Day-Lewis' only real threat comes from Hugh Jackman, who won Best Acor in a Comedy or Musical for "Les Miserables"; same with Chastain and Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical winner Jennifer Lawrence ("Silver Linings Playbook"). And "Les Mis" remains a strong contender for Best Picture, having won the Globe for Best Comedy or Musical, as well as the Supporting Actress trophy for Anne Hathaway, who was and continues to be the favorite in that category at the Oscars.

Globe victories also confirmed the momentum of Adele's "Skyfall" theme in the Best Original Song category, and of "Amour," the Austrian drama that's up for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (the prize it won at the Globes), as well as the Best Picture, Original Screenplay, Director and Actress Oscars.

The Original Score category saw a minor upset, with Mychael Danna winning a Globe for his "Life of Pi" music over scoring legend John Williams for "Lincoln." Danna now has to be considered the Oscar frontrunner in the category, where he'll face off against most of the same competitors, including Williams, "Argo" composer Alexandre Desplat and "Anna Karenina" composer Dario Marianelli.

Beyond that, the predictive power of the Globes is limited this year more than ever. For the first time in recent memory, the Globes were handed out after the Oscar nominations were announced, so they had no effect on determining this year's nominees. They could still influence Oscar voters filling out their final ballots, but they're probably more useful as a general barometer of Hollywood sentiment toward the nominated films and performers. And right now, Hollywood really seems to love comeback kid Ben Affleck.

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    Actress Rachel Weisz arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Daniel Day-Lewis arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Denzel Washington, right, and Pauletta Pearson Washington arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Lea Michele arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Bryan Cranston, left, and wife Robin Dearden arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Salma Hayek arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Musician Keith Urban, left, and actress Nicole Kidman arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Model and TV personality Heidi Klum arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Musician Keith Urban, left, and actress Nicole Kidman arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actors Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, left, and Jason Statham arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Singer Taylor Swift arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Anne Hathaway arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Marion Cotillard arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Julianne Moore arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

  • Jennifer Lopez, Casper Smart

    Actress/singer Jennifer Lopez, right, and Casper Smart arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Rachel Weisz arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Rosario Dawson arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Musician Keith Urban, left, and actress Nicole Kidman arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Musician Jon Bon Jovi, left, and Dorothea Hurley arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Jim Parsons arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Jessica Alba arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Julianna Margulies arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Helena Bonham Carter, left, and director Tim Burton at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Director Kathryn Bigelow, right, and filmmaker and journalist Mark Boal arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Hugh Jackman arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Julianne Moore arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Sarah Paulson arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Eddie Redmayne arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Show hosts Tina Fey, left, and Amy Poehler arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Show host Amy Poehler arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Leonardo DiCaprio arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Eddie Redmayne arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Olympic gymnasts Aly Raisman, left, and Gabby Douglas arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Sarah Hyland arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Sarah Hyland arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Marion Cotillard arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Jennifer Lawrence arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Amanda Seyfried arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actors Daniel Craig, left, and Rachel Weisz arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

  • Glenn Close

    Actress Glenn Close arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

  • Steven Spielberg

    Director Steven Spielberg arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Sienna Miller arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actress Jessica Chastain arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Director Steven Spielberg, right, and Kate Capshaw arrive at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

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    Actor Daniel Craig arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)