ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE IN BEST PICTURE RACE.

Byline: Bob Strauss

Film Critic

Somewhere between thinking Abigail Breslin is cute, deciding who's hunkiest -- George Clooney, Hugh Jackman or Daniel Craig -- and checking out Jennifer Lopez's neckline, you may start wondering who is going to win best picture at the end of the evening.

After all, in a show that may last four hours, you'll have a lot of time to ponder it, particularly since all of the major races seemed to have been decided long ago.

In fact, by the time "Little Miss Sunshine's" Breslin takes the stage as a presenter, she likely will have lost to Jennifer Hudson as best supporting actress. Helen Mirren is the foregone queen of actresses, while Forest Whitaker and Eddie Murphy have likewise overwhelmingly taken all preliminary heats. Even Martin Scorsese is expected to finally get his golden statue.

So the only suspense tonight -- unless your Oscar pool is turning on best animated short -- is in the best-picture race where there is no clear-cut front-runner. "Babel," "The Departed," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine" and "The Queen" all have their passionate advocates and confirmed detractors. This isn't like a year ago, when last-minute surger "Crash" beat longtime front-runner "Brokeback Mountain," or when certifiably great movie "Saving Private Ryan" lost out to enjoyable romp "Shakespeare in Love." Every best picture nominee has a good shot at the statuette this year.

So here are the pluses and minuses of each contender. Just don't wager money because of anything you read here. It's that freaky out there.

'BABEL'

For: Has more nominations (seven) than any other candidate. All elements of filmmaking (cinematography, editing, music, et al.) of highest quality and perfectly orchestrated, artistically exemplifying the movie's interconnection theme. Though mostly in foreign languages, folks tend not to really notice, and lots of them tear up at the end.

Against: Called pretentious, heavy-handed, too downbeat -- and preachy. Some evidently resent the film's premise that we should strive to communicate better. Perhaps there's a link between that and having the least amount of critical support among the contenders.

'THE DEPARTED'

For: Great cast, great dialogue and great cinematic energy, plus the only nominee that's grossed more than $100 million (or even come close). With "The Queen," it's the top choice among critics.

Against: For all its entertainment value, not a great Scorsese film, mainly due to implausible plot that hijacks every scene. Perhaps too foulmouthed, nihilistic and violence- happy for older academy members, of which there are many. Actors, the academy's largest branch, didn't support it much, nominating only Mark Wahlberg out of a stellar cast.

'LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA'

For: Made by a guy who's 76, in a language he doesn't speak, in barely a month -- right after he made a totally different movie about the same subject. And if that's not impressive enough, everyone loves Clint, and for extra sauce Spielberg produced it. Shows great restraint for a war movie, and sympathy and respect for oft-demonized former enemies.

Against: The positives are also negative. Clint's won too much and his other Iwo movie ("Flags of Our Father") didn't do well. This one's in Japanese, and it may be a little too restrained for a war movie. People respect it more than love it, and in a five-way race, passion can be crucial.

'LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE'

For: Despite themes of suicide, drug addiction and abject failure, it's the only nominee that leaves people feeling good. It has underdog cred for its own uphill struggle to get made. A top performer at guild preliminaries. Feels naughty while it reassuringly appeals to universal family values.

Against: Slightest entry in the race. Contrived situations undercut claims it's a realistic, character-driven comedy -- and comedies almost never win best picture anyway. Lack of directing and below-the-line nominations indicate narrow support.

'THE QUEEN'

For: About changing times, culture and media irresponsibility, which pretty much every academy member can relate to (not to mention they all probably consider themselves some kind of royalty). With "The Departed," a top critics choice. And it's English, which the academy associates with classy.

Against: Some think it's just a really good TV movie.

Bob Strauss [phone]

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CAPTION(S):

10 photos

Photo:

(1 -- cover -- color) 'Babel'

(2 -- cover -- color) 'The Queen'

(3 -- cover -- color) 'The Departed'

(4 -- cover -- color) 'Little Miss Sunshine'

(5 -- cover -- color) 'Letters from Iwo Jima'

(6 -- 10) Nominees for best picture, clockwise from left: "The Queen," "Letters From Iwo Jima," "Little Miss Sunshine," "Babel," "The Departed."