African-American actors catch Oscar's eye

Other films nominated for best picture are largely what observers expected. "A Beautiful Mind," about a psychologically troubled scholar, has tried-and-true ingredients - romance, suspense, a hero with a disability, and a bravura star performance - that could produce a sweep in many categories.

Giving a nod to "Gosford Park" allows Hollywood to honor maverick filmmaker Robert Altman for his most audience-friendly work in years.

The nomination of "Moulin Rouge" for best picture shows lingering respect for the near-moribund musical genre. "In the Bedroom" is the token art film on the list: intimate in scale, mildly controversial in theme, and directed by a newcomer (Todd Field) who, like "Moulin Rouge" helmer Baz Luhrmann, did not win a nod for best director.

While some analysts see a resurgence of box-office clout as a factor in Oscar nominations, only two of the year's major contenders - "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "A Beautiful Mind" - rank among the 25 highest-grossing films of 2001.

"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" has earned more than $300 million to date, but this translated into a mere three nods for art direction, costume, and music. Loudly touted hits like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Hannibal" were shut out altogether.

The academy's new animation category has proved its relevance to the movie marketplace, allowing the high-grossing "Shrek" and "Monsters, Inc." to compete in a major slot. Still, the academy came up with only one competitor for those big-budget productions - "Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" - suggesting that Hollywood studios still see animation as a secondary niche.

The most heartening aspect of the nomination list is its intermittent signs that today's Hollywood is sometimes willing to dodge time-tested formulas, and to honor the results with occasional Oscar nods. The murder mystery "Memento," which tells its story backward, and the psychological comedy-drama "Ghost World," a sympathetic look at deeply eccentric characters, are nominated for original and adapted screenplay, respectively.

On the flip side, some Hollywood mainstays did not find places at the table. Veteran actor Gene Hackman received no chance at the crown for "The Royal Tenenbaums" despite his Golden Globe win, and Billy Bob Thornton isn't there for "The Man Who Wasn't There" or "Monster's Ball," the latter film's other major nods (supporting actress, original screenplay) notwithstanding.

Some pundits predicted that the aftermath of Sept. 11 might influence the Academy Award race. It's possible the World Trade Center tragedy did raise the profile of offbeat films like "In the Bedroom" and "Monster's Ball," which deal with death and grief.

In all, however, the highly diversified nominations seem more akin to the 2000 presidential race, when a deeply split electorate failed to send clear signals of what it wanted or expected.

This year's Oscar derby is split in similar - if more numerous - ways, suggesting that Americans remain mercurial and uncertain in their attitudes and tastes.

• Monitor staff writer Stephanie Cook in Boston contributed to this report.

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