From James Horner to Alexandre Desplat to Hans Zimmer, the nominees for Best Original Score are filled with big name composers from big name movies. Adam Spunberg says it’s as competitive a field as he’s seen, but likes Michael Giacchino heartwarming tunes for “Up.”

The deepest field of Best Animated Film nominees ever is headlined by Pixar’s “Up.” Many experts think “Up” is a lock for this category, but Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” is among a feisty group of challengers hoping to pull an upset. Nate Freiberg reports in our “Road to the Oscars” series.

This year’s nominees for Best Documentary include films on Richard Nixon, illegal immigration, and Burmese unrest. But it’s two films on food and Japanese dolphin hunters that are the early favorites. Nate Freiberg reports on this category in our “Road to the Oscars” series.

Bryce Van Kooten sees the list of Oscar nominees and sees plenty of performances that got snubbed. His list includes “Star Trek” for Best Picture, Matt Damon’s for Best Actor in “The Informant!” and Zoe Saldana for her portrayal of Neytiri in “Avatar.” Who do you think got snubbed?

The second in our “Road to the Oscars” series focuses on Best Animated Short. Four of the five nominees in this category are European including a “Wallace and Gromit” short, “Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty” and “The Lady and the Reaper.” Kit Bowen takes a closer look.

Sandra Bullock has passed Meryl Streep to become the frontrunner for Best Actress. Kit Bowen writes on the tight race for the award and Bullock’s incredible comeback.

Quentin Tarantino won a screenplay Oscar for “Pulp Fiction” in 1995, but his eyes are on a bigger prize. “Inglourious Basterds” is his best shot yet at Best Picture. Is this Tarantino’s year, or is filmmaker too violent and too unusual to win over the Academy? Michaela Zanello reports.

In these trying times, “Up in the Air” is a perfect film for this era and deserves multiple Oscars, Mallory Pickard writes. It’s the favorite for Best Adapted Screenplay, and may get recognition for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director.

Once married, James Cameron and Kathryn Bigelow are reunited at awards shows, competing for Best Director for “Avatar” and the “The Hurt Locker.” Bigelow won the Critics Choice Award while Cameron took the Golden Globe. Jeremy Martin takes a closer look.

Adam Spunberg offers a thorough examination of the Best Actor award and says that George Clooney deserves the Oscar for “Up in the Air.”