Oh no, I wasnt expecting two performance nod, that wasnt gonna happen here. I was just hoping to see him up for Departed instead of Blood Diamond, Departed is a better recieved film and has been seen by a greater amount of people, obviously alot of people who just see Departed will give it to him anyways, but thats not a total given and I mean really, he's went through so much with Marty, it would be nice to see him win with Marty for the same film, im sure he'd rather have it with a film he made with Marty aswell.

I think one of the women from Babel will win supporting, or maybe even Breslin. I don't think Hudson will, it's just too easy. I think the academy likes to throw curveballs, and this is one category important enough to throw one in. All you have to say for this is...remember Marisa Tomei.

Finally we have a genuine race among all 5 nominees. It won't surprise me a bit whichever film wins. I think a lot of rules may not apply for another year.

Performance by an actor in a leading role
Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND
Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON
Peter O'Toole - VENUS
Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND WINNER!!

Performance by an actor in a supporting role
Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS WINNER!!
Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz - VOLVER.... WINNER!!
Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN
Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Performance by an actress in a supporting role
Adriana Barraza - BABEL
Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS WINNER!!!
Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

Achievement in directing
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
THE QUEEN
UNITED 93 WINNER!!

Best foreign language film of the year Where the hell is Apocalypto?
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN'S LABYRINTH...WINNER!!
WATER

Best motion picture of the year Where the hell is Dreamgirls?
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA...WINNER!!
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN

Actually last year was a 4-way tie wasn't it?

Brokeback Mountain, Crash, King Kong, and Memoirs of a Geisha all got 3 wins each!

Good points. I guess it's just a personal think, but I loved both Honsou and DiCaprio in BD and it is gratifying to see them recognized in that film. I'd love to see them both win it. I think a lock this year has to be Marty. I really hope he finally prevails. But I'm afraid the picture is going to the masturbating brother and the pissing wife and the flashing horny deaf teen picture. Man I feel sick already.

THIS Alejandro gets nominated for 7 different awards including the two big ones, yet THIS one gets nominated for 2

Since the move to February, the only honest-to-god shocker was Crash, and that had a lot of murmers going around. Once I hear murmers about one of the Babel ladies or Breslin, I'll flippity-flop over. Until then, Hudson al the way.

If I remember correctly, King Kong and Memoirs of a Geisha won FOUR Oscars each, more than any other film.

Peace,
Mike.

@ revolutions

Apolcolypto was not eligible for that category, since it was produced by an American Studio, you should know that by now (the same reason Iwo Jima wasn't eligible for that category either).

They won three, tied with Crash and Brokeback.

Oh, whoops! My mistake guys. Thanks! Still is interesting though, to have 2 films tied for the wins lead without any major win at all.

Peace,
Mike.

Very. I think we'll come close to that again, with Dreamgirls and Departed tying for most wins (4).

Could you imagine an Oscar year like this?

Best Picture: Babel
Best Director: Clint Eastwood
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling
Best ACtress- Meryl Streep
Best Supporting Actor- Alan Arking
Best Supp Acrtess- Japanese chick from Babel (Rinko Kikuchi)

What a strange year this would be, and all are possibilities.

I can't believe it's Eastwood v. Scorsese AGAIN! lol

No other director has a chance.

I agree. This should be Marty's year, but it just goes to show you how if you have the right friends, and the right power brokers behind your film, anything is possible. I loved IWO but this has to be Marty's year.

I don't think it really is. I've thought for a while now that Scorsese has it all wrapped up.

Peace,
Mike.

I think if we can learn one thing from this year's Oscars, it's that... no matter what, if Eastwood has a film out, it's going to get nominated with a Best Director nom as well!

3 out of last 4 years he's had a Best Pic/Dir nom.

Marty deserves it but the cruel side of me wants eastwood to win just to see marty's face, he might go Travis bickle on everyone.

WB must be letting out a sigh of relief, it ended up being a good strategy to put Letters wide the week of nominations.

Edit: Nevermind.

Peace,
Mike.

I wonder how wide they're going to bring it this week. 800?

Oh, and for the second year in a row 4 nominees are R Rated, one of which kicked a music-themed PG-13 contender. Freaky.

For those who haven't seen IWO yet, I urge you to. It is a very very good film and it is a shame that Watanabe did not get recognized.

Foreign films with most nominations:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon - 10 nominations (2000, 4 Wins)
Life Is Beautiful - 7 nominations (1998, 3 wins)
Pan's Labyrinth - 6 nominations (2006)
Fanny and Alexander - 6 nominations (1983, 3 wins)
Das Boot - 6 nominations (1982, 0 wins)