] With 254 movies to consider, Academy voters better get
] busy. Nomination ballots went out this week and the final
] five Best Picture candidates will be announced with the
] rest of the Oscar nominees on January 27.

According to E Online, the top contenders are:
- Return of the King
- Master and Commander
- Seabiscuit
- Cold Mountain
- Lost in Translation
- Kill Bill
- Mystic River
- American Splendor
- In America

I haven't seen all of the movies on the list yet. Of the ones I *have* seen, I'm rooting for "Return of the King", with "Master and Commander" also a strong possible, and "Lost in Translation" well-worth nominating, but I don't think it was even close to the strength of the first two. I also really enjoyed "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Whale Rider" this year.