Wait is almost over for Oscar nominations

The second chapter of The Lord of the Rings trilogy was today taking on a musical and a batch of heavyweight dramas in the Oscar nominations.

Chicago seemed likely to follow Moulin Rouge as the second straight live-action musical to get a best picture nomination.

Stars Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere and Catherine Zeta-Jones also had a good chance of receiving acting nominations too.

Best picture candidates are tipped to include The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, whose predecessor The Fellowship of the Ring led the field last year with 13 nominations.

Nominees in most categories are chosen by specific branches of the 5,600-member Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, such as actors, directors and writers.

All academy members are allowed to vote for best picture nominees. The full academy is also eligible to vote in all categories for the awards themselves.

Steve Martin will host the Oscar ceremony on March 23 at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre.

The academy chose seven-time best actor nominee Peter O’Toole as recipient of an honourary Oscar for career achievement, but O’Toole might not show up to collect it.

In a letter last month to the academy, the 70-year-old Irishman was gracious about the honour but asked that it be deferred until he was 80, since he still has a shot at winning a best actor Oscar outright.

Academy officials said they would have O’Toole’s honourary award on hand come Oscar night, whether or not he attends.