Has Hollywood finally gone global? Lost its tightly knit inner sanctum? Shed its haughty domesticism? Call this the year of cultural diversity.

Penelope Cruz, for instance, was born in Madrid. She's been nominated as Best Actress for her performance in "Volver," a Spanish-language film. "Babel's" two Best Supporting Actress nominees are Adriana Barraza from Mexico and newcomer Rinko Kikuchi from Japan. Best Supporting Actor nominee Djimon Hounsou is from Benin, Africa. We have a nominated Canadian (Ryan Gosling), an Australian (Cate Blanchett), and several Brits (Helen Mirren, Dame Judi Dench and Irishman Peter O'Toole). Leonardo DiCaprio sounds Italian enough to round out this continental cast.

Best Director nominee Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is Mexican. Not nominated but nonetheless a critics' favorite is Mexican director Guillermo del Toro's "Pan's Labyrinth," as was "Children of Men," a thriller from Mexico's Alfonso Cuaron. The foreign film is not so subtly knocking at our door- and to our benefit, I believe.

Independent filmmakers have been quite a boon to Hollywood recently, and I think there's enough room in this town to view the world (and realize how the world views us) from differing cultural viewpoints. Two of this year's Best Picture nominees are subtitled (playing in Japanese and Spanish), and "Babel" is partially subtitled.

Several nominees are baby boomers, well over 50.

Five Academy nominees are African American.

This year Hollywood is truly recognizing diversity. Bravo.

Best Supporting Actress

Both Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi turned in powerful performances in "Babel"- although competing actors in a film can split votes among fans, lowering their chances of winning. Cate Blanchett deservedly won last year for her portrayal of Kate Hepburn and probably won't repeat, despite a fine, demure performance in "Notes on a Scandal."

Abigail Breslin is my runnerup favorite as the wideeyed darling of "Little Miss Sunshine." But nobody loves a ragstoriches story more than Hollywood. The sentimental favorite is, of course, "American Idol" finalist Jennifer Hudson. I suspect that many Academy voters, appalled by the exclusion of "Dreamgirls" from the Best Picture category, may take their revenge here. And let's face it, after hearing Ms. Hudson knock out "And I Am Telling You" (one of this year's two m a g n i f i c e n t cinematic moments in song), one has no doubt who'll be taking home Oscar.

This Critic's Pick: J e n n i f e r H u d s o n ("Dreamgirls")

Pro b a b l e Winner: Jennifer Hudson ("Dreamgirls")

Best Supporting

Actor Local buzz has this race neck and neck bet w e e n "Dreamgirls'" Eddie Murphy and "The D e p a r t e d 's " M a r k Wahlberg. Personally, I feel Eddie Murphy plays a dour Eddie Murphy and Mark Wahlberg plays a dour Mark Wahlberg, although I do think one of them will win. (And Scorsese's film may have the momentum this year.)

In the riveting adult drama "Little Children," Jackie Earle Haley appears midway through the film to deliver the most uncomfortably conflicted performance since Kevin Bacon in "The Woodsman"- and should he win, the statue will be deserving. Alan Arkin disappears midway through "Little Miss Sunshine"- although what a great exit!- and his drug-using, streettalking, granddaughterdoting character is a blast. (Screen time is no predictor of winning an Oscar, by the way: Judi Dench won Best Supporting Actress for a seven-minute performance in 1999's "Shakespeare in Love.")

However, for my money, Djimon Hounsou turns in a performance equally as powerful as Best Actor nominee Leonardo DiCaprio's in "Blood Diamond." The film is Hounsou's story more so than DiCaprio's- and I think he deserves the statue.

This Critic's Pick: Djimon Hounsou ("Blood Diamond")

Probable Winner: Mark Wahlberg ("The Departed")

Best Actress

The year's toughest choice is in the Best Actress category. Penelope Cruz does a splendid job in the okay-but-not-great "Volver." However, if there were an Oscar for the year's Best Single Scene, my vote would be for Ms. Cruz's sassy, salsa rendition of the title song- truly a magical movie moment. Kate Winslet does an admirable job in the little-seen "Little Children," and Meryl Streep turns in yet another marvelous performance in the comedy "The Devil Wears Prada." (Personally, I just want to see her get 20 nominations during her career; whether she wins again would be simply a footnote to her iconic destiny.)

I think the paying money's split between two of cinema's reigning matriarchs- Judi Dench as the scheming schoolteacher in "Notes on a Scandal" and Helen Mirren in her powerful and ultimately empathetic portrayal of Queen Elizabeth in "The Queen." By a finely coiffed hair, my vote goes to Ms. Mirren.

This Critic's Pick: Helen Mirren ("The Queen")

Probable Winner: Helen Mirren ("The Queen")

Best Actor What one word better describes Peter O'Toole than magnificent. His legacy in filmdom is secured- and yet I can't help but think Peter O'Toole is largely playing himself in "Venus." Hardly a disapproval, by any means- simply a suspicion that the role won't seem a stretch to Academy voters. I don't think Leonardo DiCaprio quite caught on with audiences in "Blood Diamond" (perhaps because Danny Archer is a somewhat unsympathetic scalawag?).

Wild card Ryan Gosling turns in a heartfelt performance as an addicted inner-city teacher in the exceptional- really, see it- "Half Nelson," but I'm not sure the film has the legs to secure him with voters. Will Smith was outstanding in the decent father/ son drama "The Pursuit of Happyness"- but I don't believe even Mr. Smith can match the overwhelming, fiery presence of Forest Whitaker playing madman Idi Amin in the terrifying "The Last King of Scotland." Few critics appear to disagree.

This Critic's Pick: Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland")

P r o b a b l e Winner: Forest Whitaker ("The Last King of Scotland")

Best Director

I'll make this short. Even though Martin Scorsese's "The Departed" didn't resonate with me personally, Mr. Scorsese is possibly the most deserving director in Hollywood. If not for "The Departed," then for "Casino," "GoodFellas," "Raging Bull," "The Color of Money," "Taxi Driver" . . . the list goes on. Although I believe that with "United 93" Paul Greengrass delivered 2006's most powerful and significant effort, in a film I admittedly did not want to see, I can't fault Scorsese for finally taking home an Oscar. Hollywood's buzz nails him as a can't-lose favorite this year. It's about time.

This Critic's Pick: Paul Greengrass ("United 93")

Probable Winner: Martin Scorsese ("The Departed")

Best Picture

Despite Helen Mirren's sterling performance, "The Queen" is an incomplete picture, little more than a character sketch. As mentioned, "The Departed" wasn't my favorite of Scorsese's films- alas, I found it full of believability holes. (However, the nation's critics seem to disagree.) "Babel" was riveting, but was also too manipulative for my taste, hitting me over the head with the prejudices I must harbor as an American. Sorry, but I'd like to choose my own biases, thank you very much. (However, "Babel" may be this year's surprise winner, coming from behind "Crash"-style.)

Anyone familiar with my column will understand why "Letters from Iwo Jima" doesn't get my vote- although it's an otherwise powerful and provocative war (or antiwar) film, and I think Ken Watanabe should have been nominated for an Oscar. I suspect "The Departed" will ride on director Scorsese's coattails to the winner's circle; it's an ensemble film with a stellar cast and a tense, dramatic pace, and it may be hard to beat. However, my favorite, warts and all, is this year's darkhorse, darkly comedic treat, "Little Miss Sunshine." An indie project winning this year would be a compliment to starving filmmakers everywhere.

This Critic's Pick: "Little Miss Sunshine"

Probable Winner: "The Departed"