Members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences used proportional voting to pick Oscar nominees on Monday, January 22. Voters in each category elect 5 nominees. The Academy has used choice voting - a proportional system voters approved in Minneapolis (MN) and Davis (CA) this November - since the 1930s. All members nominate best picture, while actors nominate fellow actors, directors fellow directors and so on - more or less in proportion to their level of support among the respective voters.

As is often the case, nominees reflected some real differences, with different kinds of movies and peformances highlighted. Best actor: Leonardo DiCaprio (Blood Diamond), Peter O'Toole (Venus), Will Smith (The Pursuit of Happiness) and Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland). Best actress: Penelope Cruz (Volver), Judi Dench (Notes on a Scandal), Helen Mirren (The Queen), Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada) and Kate Winslet (Little Children).

[ Overview of the process ]