Angelina Jolie seemed like a lock in the best actress category for "A Mighty Heart," in which she portrayed Mariane Pearl, the widow of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. The role has earned her Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Spirit Award nominations, and some say it's probably the best work of her career. But she isn't among the nominees for best actress at the Academy Awards, and the film itself was shut out.
A couple of films that would have seemed like traditional academy favorites were barely recognized. "American Gangster" only received two nominations, for supporting actress Ruby Dee and for its art direction - but nothing for Oscar perennials Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe or director Ridley Scott.
"The Kite Runner," the much praised movie based on the inspiring international best-seller, got just one nomination, for original score.
Golden Globe winner "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street," based on the revered Stephen Sondheim musical, was considered a likely best picture nominee, but only received Oscar nominations for lead actor Johnny Depp, art direction and costume design.
Another movie musical, the remake of "Hairspray," was shut out completely - not even a supporting-actor nomination for John Travolta in drag or a mention for newcomer Nikki Blonsky.
D'oh! "The Simpsons Movie" failed to grab a nomination in the best animated film category, despite being a critical hit and earning nearly $526 million worldwide. Jerry Seinfeld's "Bee Movie" also was snubbed.
"Atonement" managed to pick up seven Oscar nominations and still feel snubbed. Even though it's up for best picture and six other awards, the two leads, Keira Knightley and James McAvoy, were left off the list. So was the movie's director.
"Into The Wild" garnered veteran actor Hal Holbrooke his first ever Oscar nomination and a nod for editing, but star Emile Hirsch and director Sean Penn didn't make the cut. Eddie Vedder was also snubbed for his original songs and score for the film.
Surprises
Hal Holbrook's turn in "Into The Wild" was just one of the surprise nominations. The first-time nominee, who turns 83 a week before the Oscars, is the third-oldest actor ever nominated.
Another first-timer, actress Ruby Dee, is nominated in the best supporting actress category for her role in "American Gangster." At 83, Dee is the second-oldest actor ever nominated, behind Gloria Stuart of "Titanic," who was 87. The oldest winner is Jessica Tandy, at 80, for "Driving Miss Daisy."
The acting categories generally played out as expected - with a few surprises, including best actress nominee Laura Linney for "The Savages." Thought previously nominated for the Academy Award, this role was not on the awards radar, according to critics.
"The big surprise in the best actor category is Tommy Lee Jones getting nominated for "In the Valley of Elah," says awards pundit Tom O'Neil. "If he was going to appear anywhere on the Oscar list, it was expected to be in supporting for "No Country for Old Men."
A record four screenplays were nominated in which women can claim sole writing credit: Screenwriter Nancy Oliver, shown, for "Lars and The Real Girl," "Juno" by Diablo Cody and "The Savages" by Tamara Jenkins in the original category, and "Away From Her" by Sarah Polley in the adapted category. It's also the first Oscar nomination for all four.
Cate Blanchett, posing with the Oscar she won for best supporting actress for her work in "The Aviator" in 2005, is one of several multiple nominees. This year, she has the chance to take home two more statuettes -- for best actress in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and for supporting actress in "I'm Not There."
Whiel it's no surprise that they were nominated, brothers Ethan and Joel Coen technically received four nominations: for best picture since they're producers on "No Country for Old Men," for director and adapted screenplay, and for editing under their longtime pseudonym, Roderick Jaynes.
Another surprise according to critics was the nomination of "Juno" director Jason Reitman. This is just the second feature from the 30-year-old, following 2005's "Thank You for Smoking." Fellow nominees Tony Gilroy ("Michael Clayton") and Julian Schnabel ("The Diving Bell and the Butterfly") are also Oscar first-timers.
The veteran music team behind "Enchanted" and many other Disney movies - Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz - received three out of the five original-song nominations. However, musicians Johnny Greenwood, Eddie Vetter and actor/director Clint Eastwood were snubbed for their respective movie music.
And here is, perhaps, the biggest surprise of all. The comedy "Norbit" has the distinction of receiving eight Razzie nominations for the year's worst film, including five for Murphy alone. But it also earned an Oscar nomination for best makeup.