Sofia Coppola Lost in Translation ofia Coppola’s nomination is sure to become a source of Oscar trivia. Not only is she the first American woman to be nominated, but only the third woman to receive the honor (Lina Wertmuller and Jane Campion were the others). Heady stuff for a director who, on only her second film, has created the kind of buzz reserved for bigger budget projects. Coppola’s culture clash, for which she is also nominated for Best Original Screenplay, is a bittersweet tale with moments of comedic brilliance. Question is, will the Academy think it’s too soon for this emerging talent? Clint Eastwood Mystic River t’s hard to believe 11 years have passed since Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven won both the Best Picture and Best Director categories. This time, Eastwood stayed behind the camera to focus on bringing a story of three men touched by tragedy, to the big screen. While blessed with a fantastic cast, Eastwood’s gift as a director is eliciting the best performances from his actors, and he does just that with Sean Penn, Tim Robbins and Marcia Gay Harden all being recognized for their work in the film. In Mystic River, Eastwood has made an old-fashioned murder mystery -- dark, brooding and powerful, right to the final scene. Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King If there is a frontrunner in this category, it has to be Jackson. Nominated two years ago for The Fellowship of the Ring, Jackson was overlooked for his work on The Two Towers. In The Return of the King, he unveiled a visually eye-popping conclusion that also had what many fantasy films lack -- heart. In addition to a fierce shooting schedule of 18 months that saw all three films shot back-to-back, the producer/writer/director had to contend with a huge cast, hundreds of extras and the creation of Middle-earth, all while trying to please Tolkien’s legions of fans. Jackson has already taken home the Golden Globe for Best Director. He seems a shoo-in for the Oscar.

Fernando Meirelles City of God hen Fernando Meirelles got word his film had won four Oscar nominations, he asked, "Has the Academy gone mad?" Though he had high hopes, Meirelles never expected that his semi-documentary, Portuguese language film, shot in Brazillian back alleys and slums, using a largely unprofessional cast, would be selected. Set in the Cidade de Deus housing project, this gritty, realistic look at the most dangerous place in Rio de Janeiro is punctuated by brutal violence, drug content, sexuality, slow motion shots, split screen and a funky score. This is his first Oscar nomination. Peter Weir Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World Always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Peter Weir must feel that way after three Oscar nods (The Truman Show, Dead Poets Society, Witness) but no gold. That could change with his adaptation of two of Patrick O’Brian’s novels into one seamless epic. Much like the aforementioned films, Master and Commander is classic Weir, with the Australian director providing a look inside at yet another enclosed society. Giving the audience the experience of being at sea aboard the ship was critical, says Weir. "I surrounded myself with artifacts of the period as I worked on the script -- swords, belt-buckles, maps, hoping to draw down the muse." His well-received historical adventure is proof that it worked. Enter our $10,000 diamond contest HERE