The last two Oscar races to break down before taking the plunge and making my pics for the winners are Best Director and Best Picture.

The Best Director race this year is filled with newbies and has one veteran reigning over them all. First the snubs: Ron Howard for Cinderella Man, Woody Allen for Match Point, James Mangold for Walk The Line and my pick for biggest snub is Fernando (City Of God) Meirelles for The Constant Gardener.

The ones who did make it are Paul Haggis for Crash, his clever and volatile drama about race relations in LA, which features a who's who of actors giving some great performances.

George Clooney sailed in with his film Good Night, And Good Luck about the fall of Sen. Joseph McCarthy thanks in no small part to Edward Murrow. Next George can direct a cigarette commercial. Sorry, I couldn't resist. If you've seen the film you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't then never mind.

Ang Lee is the one to beat for his picturesque and quiet drama about two cowboys, um ranchhands, in love in the not so weepy (ok, I didn't weep or cry or get teary eyed, call me stone hearted, ok) drama Brokeback Mountain.

Bennett Miller got a surprise (in my book anyway) nod for his film about the infamous Truman Capote's quest for a book in the aptly titled Capote.

Steven Spielberg, who's no stranger to this race, scored a much deserved nod for his controversial and speculative thriller Munich.

Now for the feature attraction. First the snubs in the Best Pic race. Cinderella Man, The Constant Gardener, and The Chronicles Of Narnia (my pick for biggest snub) were all denied a shot at the gold.

Brokeback Mountain, the there's-not-going-to-be-a-dry-eye-in-the-house (except for mine) drama about homosexuality in them thar hills, got a nod.

Munich, the story of Israeli's dispatched to assassinate Arabs responsible for the massacre at the 1972 Olympics, received a nod.

Good Night, And Good Luck, a black-and-white pic about the infamous 50's showdown on the telly, scored a nod.

Capote, the story of creepy Capote in his desire to write a book that will sell, got a nod.

Crash, the ensemble drama with Matt Dillon, Brendan Fraser, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Esposito, Tony Danza, Thandie Newton, Terrence Howard, etc..etc..etc... got a nod. Not to be confused with the 1997 film, with Holly Hunter and James Spader, of the same name.

peace out,

paul