The List of 15

The visual effects branch of the Academy have announced their 'list of 15' films, considered semifinalists in the race for the Oscar nominations for the 81st Academy Awards.

• “Australia”
• “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian”
• “Cloverfield”
• “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
• “The Dark Knight”
• “The Day the Earth Stood Still”
• “Hancock”
• “Hellboy II: The Golden Army”
• “The Incredible Hulk”
• “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull”
• “Iron Man”
• “Journey to the Center of the Earth”
• “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor”
• “Quantum of Solace”
• “The Spiderwick Chronicles”

The Executive Committee will then whittle this list down to seven films in the next few weeks, which will be featured at the bake-off (to take place on January 15), where each of the seven films presents a reel of their finished work, and takes questions from the entire visual effects branch. The entire branch then votes for their top three choices, which ultimately determine the three Academy Award nominees for Best Visual Effects. The nominees for all categories will be announced on January 22. The entire Academy then votes on the winner.

Personally, I'm happy that none of this year's animated films made this list of 15, which allows the industry to sidestep the entire issue of debating the term visual effects, as we had to last year, when "Ratatouille" and "Beowulf" made it to the 'list of 15.'

I am also generally happy with this list of films, meaning, I don't sense any major snubs ("The Matrix Revolutions" being ignored in 2003) or 'are you kidding me?!' films on this list.

My prediction for the final seven films: "Prince Caspian," "Benjamin Button," "Dark Knight," "Hellboy II," "Indy IV," "Iron Man," "Spiderwick."