In 1988, the Best Picture nominees were: The Accidental Tourist, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi Burning, Rain Man, which won, and Working Girl.

This year's Palme recipient, Romanian director Cristian Mungiu's “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days,” will test its appeal in the U.S. when it's released domestically by IFC First Take and Red Envelope Entertainment in January. But already, the Palme d'Or had cast its halo over the riveting film about two women who seek illegal abortion in communist Romania in 1987.

A typically masculine genre, the Western movie genre has always offered better roles for men. This fact was acknowledged by the Academy: In Oscar's history, only eight men (four lead and four supporting), but no women, have won an acting award for a Western role.

In 1986, “The Mission” competed for the Best Picture Oscar with Oliver Stone's Vietnam War film Platoon,” which won the top award and other Oscars, the melodrama, “Children With a Lesser God,” Woody Allen's serio comedy, “Hannah and Her Sisters, which won the Supporting Acting Oscars, and Merchant-Ivory costume drama, “A Room With a View.”

November 8, 2007–Animated and CG-created movies kicked off the Oscar race today (Thursday), as they were officially submitted for the best animated feature Oscar. Among the films submitted for consideration are “The Simpsons' Movie,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” “Ratatouille,” “Meet the Robinsons,” “Surf's Up,” “TMNT,” “Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters,” “Shrek the Third” and “Bee Movie.”