The following films will be released this Wednesday, December 29:

The Merchant of Venice
The Assassination of Richard Nixon
In Good Company
A Love Song for Bobby Long

My question is: Is it too late for them?

Although none have received big praise, each has collected small accolades ever since the NBR winners were announced (breakthrough awards for Topher Grace, Scarlett Johnansson's Golden Globe nomination, techie praise for The Merchant of Venice, Ebert & Roeper loving on Sean Penn).

Has too late of a release date caused them to get lost in the shuffle? Maybe not much chance to begin with?

Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice and Sean Penn in the Assassination of Richard Nixon are getting late buzz, but considering both have won oscar before, and the best actor is already crowded, I don't think either of them has much of chance.

Scarlett Johansson has a better chance in my opinion, because she has two films, In Good Company and The Love Song for Bobby Long, and is more visible. There is also the snub factor from last year, when she gave not just one, two very good performances. With the No. 5 spot in the best actress race up for grab, she may just sneak in.

I think there will be surprises. Last year, few were expecting Samantha Morton, Djimon Hounsou, and Shohreh Aghdashloo to get nominated, although In America and House of Sand and Fog weren't released as late and did some more buzz for either screenplay or acting.

You have to understand that a lot of these films have been screening for a month or two, so if they aren't really showing up on the radar now it's mostly because people found them unworthy of merit.

Even the super-late bloomers like In America and House of Sand and Fog were scoring critical notice and awards victories earlier than now.

Scarlett Johannson might still have a shot. She had two good performances last year both of which were nominated for a Golden Globe, yet she was snubbed for an Oscar nomination. This time around she, once again, has two roles and the Academy might make up for the snub last year by nominating her for one of those.