This is officially the most wide open race in Oscar history. Four films have won the four big precursor Best Picture awards. Apparently I'm the only guy that expected this (in however nail-biting a fashion).

To me, "Little Miss Sunshine" is the golden film story for producers if there ever was one. A film gets made on the cheap, comes from a screenwriter who spent his days in the world of script coverage and personal assistance. It goes on to to a film festival, in this case, Sundance, gets purchased for a record amount of money. The film hits the marketplace, makes back the investment and then some. Oh yeah, and you'd have to be a total ass to find beef with anyone involved with the picture.

A huge, massive congratulations to the Fox Searchlight team and to the producers of the film. This is well-deserved. I just spoke with Michael Arndt today at a Q&A, I expect to interview Jon and Val within the week. But man, this stuff, it just couldn't happen to nicer people.

By the way, the fifth likely Best Picture nominee that hasn't received a major Best Picture win? "The Queen?" It'll be the most critically acclaimed of the likely five Best Picture nominees.

Wide...open...race.