Here's the list of this year's Oscar noms:

NOMINATIONS BY CATEGORY - 79TH AWARDS

Best motion picture of the year
BABEL
THE DEPARTED
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
THE QUEEN

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

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
Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Performance by an actress in a leading role
Penélope Cruz - VOLVER
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
Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

Best animated feature film of the year
CARS
HAPPY FEET
MONSTER HOUSE

Achievement in art direction
DREAMGIRLS
THE GOOD SHEPHERD
PAN'S LABYRINTH
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in cinematography
THE BLACK DAHLIA
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE ILLUSIONIST
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in costume design
CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
DREAMGIRLS
MARIE ANTOINETTE
THE QUEEN

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

Best documentary feature
DELIVER US FROM EVIL
AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
JESUS CAMP
MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Best documentary short subject
THE BLOOD OF YINGZHOU DISTRICT
RECYCLED LIFE
REHEARSING A DREAM
TWO HANDS

Achievement in film editing
BABEL
BLOOD DIAMOND
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
UNITED 93

Best foreign language film of the year
AFTER THE WEDDING
DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
THE LIVES OF OTHERS
PAN'S LABYRINTH
WATER

Achievement in makeup
APOCALYPTO
CLICK
PAN'S LABYRINTH

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)
BABEL
THE GOOD GERMAN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)
"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS
"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS
"Our Town" - CARS
"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS

Best animated short film
THE DANISH POET
LIFTED
THE LITTLE MATCHGIRL
MAESTRO
NO TIME FOR NUTS

Best live action short film
BINTA AND THE GREAT IDEA (BINTA Y LA GRAN IDEA)
ÉRAMOS POCOS (ONE TOO MANY)
HELMER & SON
THE SAVIOUR
WEST BANK STORY

Achievement in sound editing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in sound mixing
APOCALYPTO
BLOOD DIAMOND
DREAMGIRLS
FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in visual effects
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
POSEIDON
SUPERMAN RETURNS

Adapted screenplay
BORAT CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
CHILDREN OF MEN
THE DEPARTED
LITTLE CHILDREN
NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Original screenplay
BABEL
LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
PAN'S LABYRINTH
THE QUEEN

A few observations:
Dreamgirls left out of the Best Pic category? Not easy to pick a winner this year. I'd say Letters from Iwo Jima is the only one that has no chance. I'd vote for The Queen by a hair over Sunshine (saw all 5 already).

They could practically hand out the acting awards today: Mirren, Whitaker, Murphy, and Hudson are near-locks. Although Oscar voters do some whacky things sometimes.

If Happy Feet (overrated) beats Cars (a masterpiece), I'll just spit.

3 new songs from Dreamgirls all up for best song? And An Inconvenient Truth had a theme song? I found the music to be the weakest link in Dreamgirls, I thought only 2 songs at most would've actually been hits during the 60s and 70s. What happened to Prince's contribution to Happy Feet?

Biggest surprise for me this year was the relatively strong showing by Blood Diamond... haven't seen it yet, but find it hard to believe that DiCaprio turned in a stronger performance for that film than his work in The Departed. Also surprised to see two acting noms for Little Children, as I thought that film had kind of disappeared off the radar screen. Finally, nice to see Pan's Labyrinth get some much deserved recognition in non-technical categories (screenplay, foreign film).

It is shocking that Dreamgirls was left out of the running after doing well at at the Golden Globes. How it can recieve 8 noms and no Best Picture needs explaining. But its loss means we will have a movie-movie win the Oscar this year.

But the Best Picture field is strong this year. All of the films mentioned were very good. I can't say which is my favorite but I have to root for Scorsese.

Cars should easily win Best Animated though Happy Feet surprised me. It was one of the most musical films of the year. My wife even has the soundtrack in her car! Why wasn't Prince's song nominated? Its actually pretty good. He would have been fun to see at the Oscars. Big mistake there.

Can you imagine Marky Mark could win an Oscar!?

Women are particularly strong this year but Helen Mirren has to be considered a lock. Every time I see that trailer I think its an actual documentary about the Queen! Uncanny!

Nice to see Peter OToole get a nod.He could be a sentimental favorite but Whittaker's performance is obviously very strong. Plus Will Smith's movie has done better than could have been imagined.

Does Jennifer Hudson deserve an Oscar after one performance on the big screen? We know the track record of Oscar. Love those newbies. But I would doubt she will have a long movie career.

no jack nicholson is just shocking to me!

renny