Oscar's best-picture nominations are all over the place this year, in terms of cinematic geography and the likely distribution of votes.

The best-picture nomination for "Ghost," which has earned $214 million at the box office, came as something of a surprise to movie-industry prognosticators, who considered it lightweight.

So I think we'd really have to build up a strong head of steam in some of the earlier awards to get a best-picture nomination.

Good films as well as dogs may be forgotten by the general membership when voting the best-picture nominations.

Following a different path, "Munich," which was directed by Mr. Spielberg, was not a major audience hit, but did end up with a best-picture nomination.

Miramax's unparalleled 11-year string of best-picture nominations was broken in 2003 (when "Cold Mountain" was spurned by the academy).

Fine Line has also been able to turn the underdog film's battle for a best-picture nomination into news.

One of the three producers, William Kong, is based here, giving Hong Kong a claim on the best-picture nomination.

Neither "Ali" nor "Black Hawk Down" scored a best-picture nomination.

Mr. Hiltzik said that Miramax had received 11 best-picture nominations over the last 10 years.