Here Are The Nominees…

ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

Don Cheadle – HOTEL RWANDA
Johnny Depp – FINDING NEVERLAND
Leonardo DiCaprio – THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jamie Foxx – RAY

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Alan Alda – THE AVIATOR
Thomas Haden Church – SIDEWAYS
Jamie Foxx – COLLATERAL
Morgan Freeman – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Clive Owen – CLOSER

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

Annette Bening – BEING JULIA
Catalina Sandino Moreno – MARIA FULL OF GRACE
Imelda Staunton – VERA DRAKE
Hilary Swank – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Kate Winslet – ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Cate Blanchett – THE AVIATOR
Laura Linney – KINSEY
Virginia Madsen – SIDEWAYS
Sophie Okonedo – HOTEL RWANDA
Natalie Portman – CLOSER

WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Richard Linklater et al. – BEFORE SUNSET
David Magee – FINDING NEVERLAND
Paul Haggis – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Jose Rivera – THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor – SIDEWAYS

WRITING (ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY)

John Logan – THE AVIATOR
Charlie Kaufman – ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
Keir Pearson & Terry George – HOTEL RWANDA
Brad Bird – THE INCREDIBLES
Mike Leigh – VERA DRAKE

DIRECTING

Martin Scorcese – THE AVIATOR
Clint Eastwood – MILLION DOLLAR BABY
Taylor Hackford – RAY
Alexander Payne – SIDEWAYS
Mike Leigh – VERA DRAKE

BEST PICTURE

THE AVIATOR
FINDING NEVERLAND
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
RAY
SIDEWAYS

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Huh. I am so completely out of the loop, I’ve managed to see none of those. Not one. (Amusing to see Jamie Foxx competing in both Actor categories — having won the Globe, is that a good sign for a Best Actor Oscar?) But I guess the short answer is, if I have even one prayer of competing in our little ballot contest this year, it’s time for me to head to the theater…

Complete nominee list here.