Best Makeup
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ve Neill and Martin Samuel
Of the three nominees, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End boasts the showiest example of movie makeup. For the record, the other two nominees are La Vie en Rose, in which gorgeous Marion Cotillard was transformed into plain Edith Piaf, and Norbit.
Best Documentary Short
Sari's Mother, James Longley
The short film winners are hard to predict because they belong to a "special category" — only the relatively few who prove they have watched all nominated films can vote for the winner. Compounding matters, the shorts, like most foreign-language feature film nominees, aren't easily available for viewing in the United States.
Now, James Longley's documentary feature Iraq in Fragments was nominated last year. Sari's Mother, about an Iraqi mother trying to find medical assistance for her AIDS-stricken 10-year-old son in that war-ravaged country, may be Longley's turn to win.
Best Live Action Short
The Mozart of Pickpockets, Philippe Pollet-Villard
The Mozart of Pickpockets has a little boy who, after being put to use as a thief, reveals himself a master at stealing. Films featuring little boys always have a good chance to get a nomination — and to win — an Oscar. The Mozart of Pickpockets has also been nominated for a César.
Best Animated Short
Peter & the Wolf, Suzie Templeton and Hugh Welchman
The old classic tale about a boy and his (killer) wolf gets an atmospheric British-made retelling.