The Academy Award nominations were announced this morning and there are already a few nominees that need to start preparing their acceptance speeches, like my favorite Jennifer Hudson who's up for the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

There really weren't too many surprises at this year's awards, just one big one. The real shocker came when Best Picture was announced. The field includes "Little Miss Sunshine," "The Queen," "The Departed," "Babel" and "Letter from Iwo Jima." Wait a second... "Letters from Iwo Jima?" Really? Seriously?

Ok, I haven't seen the movie yet (which, by the way, it really needs to come to Milwaukee like yesterday), but how did it edge out "Dreamgirls?" If there was going to be a movie dropped from the Best Picture category it would have to be "Little Miss Sunshine," although I pledge my undying love for it. Heck, one of the bright yellow movie posters is hanging up in my apartment. But "Dreamgirls" deserved a Best Picture nod.

But "Dreamgirls" did get eight noms, including three in the Original Song category, which shut out Prince's "Song of the Heart" off the "Happy Feet" soundtrack which won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes. Which reminds me, Beyonce not getting her name including for "Listen" in the nominations doesn't really bother me. She sang her heart out, but out of all the original songs I think Jennifer Hudson singing "Love You I Do" was the better performance.

Enough "Dreamgirls" talk.  There'll be enough of that everywhere else.

Many people are surprised that the Best Actor nomination that Leonardo DiCaprio got was for the wrong movie. "Blood Diamond" won out over "The Departed." I predicted it actually. He showed quite the range in "Blood Diamond" with a great accent, great emotion. It's the first time I've looked at him and thought, wow he's certainly grown as an actor. He's the real thing, not some wimpy boy running around a sinking ship.

I don't think he'll win anyway. Forest Whitaker also seems to have a lock on the category for "The Last King of Scotland."

One thing I find myself giggling about is the Best Makeup category. "Click" was nominated. No, it's not a joke. The Adam Sandler flick was nominated and I have no idea why. Yes, the makeup artists got Sandler into a fat suit, but... wasn't there a better movie? "Pan's Labyrinth" will and should win hands down over this flick and "Apocalypto."  

Ah, the Best Actress category. Meryl, Helen, Penelope, Kate and Judi, it's a stacked deck. But the youngins are out of their league. It's going to either Meryl Streep, Helen Mirren or Judi Dench. I'd be happy with any of them winning. But I'd say Mirren can edge out the other two. Streep's crowd pleasing, boss from hell in the "Devil Wears Prada" is too... commercial for an Oscar win. Dench plays a cat lady obsessing over a younger woman, but she may be just too creepy for voters. Mirren brings some emotion to the Royal Family after a tragedy.

Best Supporting Actor, also seems to be a lock with Eddie Murphy's superb performance. There was much character development and he's got the right range of emotions throughout. Alan Arkin's role as a sex-crazed grandfather in "Little Miss Sunshine" also makes for a great role. It's nice to see Djimon Hounsou nominated for "Blood Diamond," although when a lot of people see him, they think "Amistad." He was the yin to DiCaprio's yang in "Blood Diamond" though.

I don't even want to discuss Best Supporting Actress because if Jennifer Hudson does not win, it would be a complete and utter travesty. She was the heart and soul of "Dreamgirls" and she was the best thing that ever happened to "American Idol Season 3." Althoug, props to the Academy for nominating the ever-so-adorable Abigail Breslin for "Little Miss Sunshine."

And finally, the Best Director category. It's hard to guess on this category because Clint Eastwood is nominated. I'm just hoping Martin Scorsese wins because, frankly, he's the Susan Lucci of the directing world. Plus who doesn't love his eyebrows. That's all I was thinking about when he was giving his acceptance speech at the Globes. Come on! They just stick out from his face. 

Oh ya, although I thought Sacha Baron Cohen should have been nominated for Best Actor, I still think it's hilarious that he got a nom for Best Adapted Screenplay with his writing team. I cannot wait to hear them read off the nominees prior to giving out the award just because they'll have to say the movie's entire name: "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan."

All in all, I love awards season. It's the best season of the year.