Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for her role in Whale Rider. Youngest ever for a lead role. Very cool. Sofia Coppola is just the third woman nominated for director.

I have a host of sentimental choices to root for: Bill Murray, Castle-Hughes, Patricia Clarkson, Johnny Depp (unfortunately same category as Murray), Triplets of Belleville, and Fog of War. I'm hoping Return of the King and Lost in Translation split picture/director honors, but Mystic River will probably win. The Best Picture choice has a history of disappointing me starting with Terms of Endearment over The Right Stuff in 1983/84.