Munich

A thriller with a conscience, Steven Spielberg's Munich is an account of the aftermath of the 1972 Munich Olympics, where 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed by a Palestinian group called Black September. Starring Eric Bana, whose character Avner leads a group of Israeli operatives in their mission to take down those responsible for the Munich attack, the film explores the murky moral ground of retaliation.

Nominations: 5

Best Picture
Best Director (Steven Spielberg)
Best Editing (Michael Kahn)
Best Original Score (John Williams)
Best Adapted Screenplay (Tony Kushner, Eric Roth)

Why It'll Win: Spielberg's re-enactment of the tragic events in Munich and skilled use of archived news footage make for chilling viewing.

Why It Won't: Clocking in at close to three hours, Munich drags more than a thriller should, and though Spielberg has received recognition, the film itself has gone unnoticed at other major awards shows.

Other major awards/nominations: