
This morning, the Academy released it's list of nominees for the 79th Academy Awards show. You can see the
complete list of nominees here.
Best Picture nominees include, "Babel", "The Departed", "Letters from Iwo Jima", "Little Miss Sunshine", and "The Queen".

I will reserve public judgement until I have seen all of these (I have only seen two of the five nominees). I really enjoyed "Little Miss Sunshine". "Babel", not so much, though Cate Blanchett is fantastic in it. I hear the three remaining films are incredible, so I will see them as soon as I can. Then I can adequately root for my fave.
There seem to be no real surprises here, other than a couple disappointing omissions in the Sound Mixing and Sound Editing categories. (go figure I pick that category to pick apart) Actually, the sound categories are full of great sounding films, and the nominees are all deserving. I was pulling for
"Superman Returns" (
Craig Berkey) and
"Cars" (
Tom Myers) to make it, but there's only SO much room I guess. I would have a hard time choosing the two films to remove from the list to put these on, so why not make it a seven nominee category??? Dream on.
In case you would like to know, here's this year's sound nominees:
Achievement in Sound Editing:“Apocalypto” - Sean McCormack and Kami Asgar
“Blood Diamond" - Lon Bender
“Flags of Our Fathers” - Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
“Letters from Iwo Jima” - Alan Robert Murray
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” -
Christopher Boyes and George Watters II
Achievement in Sound Mixing:“Apocalypto” -
Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Fernando Camara
“Blood Diamond” - Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ivan Sharrock
“Dreamgirls” - Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer and Willie Burton
“Flags of Our Fathers” -
John Reitz, Dave Campbell, Gregg Rudloff and Walt Martin
“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” -
Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes and Lee Orloff
So what do you think? Any nominations take you by surprise? What category do you focus on when you watch?