Oscar Watch: Nominees predix, last minute foreign

Here's a shortlist of the 9 foreign films eligible for a nomination tomorrow morning, as well as a description of the process used for winnowing down the 61 films: http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.01.16a.html

I'm shocked as hell that China's Curse of the Golden Flower isn't on the shortlist. As much as I didn't care for Zhang Yimou's latest, I was sure it would make it to the ballot. Anyway, here's my prediction for the final five:

• Algeria, Days of Glory
• Canada, Water
• Germany, The Lives of Others
• Mexico, Pan’s Labyrinth
• Spain, Volver

Given the buzz behind Guillermo Del Toro's Labyrinth and Pedro Almodovar's Volver, they're locks for nominations. Thanks to Albert Rodriguez for the link!

Volver photo courtesy Sony Pictures Classics.