January 27, 2008–The conclusion from a study of all 1,394 nominations since 1927 carried out by sociologists at Harvard University and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)found that actors had a much better chance of being nominated for an Oscar if they were in a drama rather than a comedy, and if they had been nominated before and surrounded themselves with acclaimed collaborators.

“The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford” received two Oscar nominations: Supporting Actor for Casey Affleck and Cinematography for Roger Deakins.

January 22, 2008–World cinema master Andrzej Wajda?¢¬Ä¬ôs film ?¢¬Ä¬úKatyn,?¢¬Ä about the murder of thousands of Polish military officers by the Soviet secret police during World War II, including Wajda?¢¬Ä¬ôs own father, has been nominated by Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in the Foreign Film Category for the 80th Oscar Awards.

Ridley Scott's “American Gangster” received two Oscar nominations: Ruby Dee as Supporting Actress and Art Direction.

Julie Taymor's musical “Across the Universe” received only one Oscar nomination, for Costume Design.