The studio report

A breakdown of which films have the potential to bring home some hardware

Disney/Touchstone

A strong lineup of possibilities for the crafts and animation races includes “Cars,” “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” “The Prestige” and “Apocalypto,” though director Mel Gibson’s drunken outburst could turn voters against his film.

Focus Features

Rebounding from its “Brokeback Mountain” disappointment, Focus is back in the saddle with strong contenders in “Catch a Fire” and “Hollywoodland.”

Fox Searchlight

Searchlight is suddenly in the Oscar spotlight with “The Last King of Scotland,” “Notes on a Scandal,” “The History Boys,” “Thank You for Smoking” and -- take a bow, sweet little hambone -- “Little Miss Sunshine.” If “Fast Food Nation” can find its way into an awards category, that would give the studio a nod for every release but “Phat Girlz.”

Miramax

Harvey who? The now Weinstein-less studio may not only return to the big show, but it could also end up competing directly against new Weinstein Co. releases. In addition to the lead actress race, “The Queen” could reign in the best-picture realm. “Venus” star Peter O’Toole awaits an overdue nod.

New Line

The adult-themed “Little Children” has big promise in many top races. Oscar’s youngest best actress nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (“Whale Rider”) returns this year in “The Nativity Story.”

Paramount/Vantage DreamWorks

Clint Eastwood’s “Flags of Our Fathers” could dominate, plus there’s “Dreamgirls,” “World Trade Center,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Flushed Away” and “Over the Hedge” in the mix. Art-house division Vantage has “Babel.” On the downside, voters may be weary of saluting Eastwood and leery of the new, non-conspiratorial Oliver Stone of “World Trade Center.”

Picturehouse

“A Prairie Home Companion” from the Oscar-overdue Robert Altman could hit home. Robert Downey Jr. could get a nod for his work in “Fur,” and “Pan’s Labyrinth” has potential.

Sony/Columbia

This studio’s sitting pretty with “Pursuit of Happyness,” “Running with Scissors,” “The Holiday” and “Monster House.” “Marie Antoinette” may survive initial cries for its head at Cannes. Sony Pictures Classics has “Volver.”

20th Century Fox

Evil could land Meryl Streep (in “The Devil Wears Prada”) an unprecedented 14th nomination. “Ice Age: The Meltdown” could generate some heat for best animated picture.

Universal

“The Good Shepherd” looks like a good bet with Robert De Niro directing. “United 93” aims to have new life via its DVD release. And there’s been early buzz on “Children of Men.”

Warner Bros.

The studio is fielding a strong lineup with “Happy Feet,” “The Good German,” “Blood Diamond,” “The Fountain” and the fact that its sneaky, Martin Scorsese reverse-psychology ploy worked (“Hey, everybody, ‘The Departed’ is just entertainment, not an Oscar movie!”)

Warner Independent

The studio has “The Painted Veil,” “Infamous” and “A Scanner Darkly” for voters’ consideration, as well as “For Your Consideration,” but can voters laugh at themselves enough to back that awards-season spoof?

Weinstein Co.

Oscar warrior Harvey Weinstein is back in the fight with “Bobby,” “Miss Potter,” “Shut Up & Sing” and late contender “Factory Girl.”

-- Tom O’Neil