Fresh new Latino faces were represented at the Oscar nominations with the Argentinian Berenice Bejo (THE ARTIST) getting a nod for Best Supporting Actress, Mexican Demian Bichir (A BETTER LIFE) received a Best Actor nomination, and Chico y Rita obtained a Best Animated Film nom. 

But before you continue reading, I need to get a few things off my chest. I like Demián Bichir's work in A BETTER LIFE, but even he would tell you that he was nominated for the wrong film! Fidel Castro in CHE was his best performance in his career to date.

The Buenos Aires born Bérénice Bejo selection is understandable but hard to swallow for me. I hate to confess this but Bejo didn't impress me in The Artist. Compared to every other actor in the cast, she was the weakest link. Her mannersisms seemed force and unnatural. Obviously, I'm not a fan. But for the sake of Latinos surging in a white film universe, I wish her a win. 

One thing I have not even remotely heard from anyone is that RODRIGO GARCIA directed ALBERT NOBBS! He's Colombian! Why isn't anyone talking about him?

Glad to see HUGO get its due with 11 nominations. It begins slow, but boy does it leave an impression on you for days. 3D is pretty sick too.

BTW, I have a major issue with MONEYBALL and its story. Why was this made into a movie? Moneyball didn't help the Oakland Athletics even pass the first round of the playoffs!

Speaking about Moneyball, Jonah Hill was very good. I'd argue he was the best part of the irrelevant film. But over Albert Brooks? He was robbed. The one who wasn't was Nick Nolte. Well deserved. Max Von Sydow? BS.

Another travesty is Steven Spielberg not being nominated for Best Director: War Horse is as close to a masterpiece as we're going to get 2011.

Michael Fassbender not getting a nod for BEST ACTOR is tragical. It was between him and Jean Dujardin for the win. His performance was powerful!

'Extremely Loud' is unbearable to watch. It shouldn't even be nominated. Why do you think no other film organization awarded it? The film possesses so many problems so many holes. Hanks, Bullock, Daldry no noms, ha!

Also, Oscars picked 9 films. Why not just go for the full 10!? Drive, Dragon, The Ides of March, My Week with Marylin, Potter, were all worthy option.

Shocking moments from Oscar list: Dicaprio, Fassbender, Brooks, Spielberg, Tintin no nods. Hill, Bichir, McCarth, Glenn Close getting nods. Many surprises!

Moving on... here is the complete list of nominations for the 84th Academy Awards.

Best Picture

War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress

Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Actor

Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Director

Michel Hazanivicus, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Original Screenplay

Michel Hazanivicius, The Artist
Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo, Bridesmaids
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation

Best Adapted Screenplay

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Beau Willimon and Grant Heslov, The Ides of March
Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin and Stan Chervin, Moneyball
Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Best Foreign Feature

Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation

Best Animated Feature

A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

Art Direction

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse

Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse

Costume Design

Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.

Documentary Feature

Hell and Back Again
If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated

Documentary Short Subject

The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement
God Is the Bigger Elvis
Incident in New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom

Film Editing

Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Kevin Tent, The Descendants
Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Thelma Schoonmaker, Hugo
Christopher Tellefsen, Moneyball

Makeup

Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle, Albert Nobbs
Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland, The Iron Lady

Music (Original Score)

John Williams, The Adventures of Tintin
Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Howard Shore, Hugo
Alberto Iglesias, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
John Williams, War Horse

Music (Original Song)

"Man or Muppet" from The Muppets, Bret McKenzie
"Real in Rio" from Rio, Sergio Mendes, Carlinhos Brown and Siedah Garrett

Sound Editing

Drive
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
War Horse

Sound Mixing

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Monyeball
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon
War Horse

Visual Effects

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon

Short Film (Animated)

Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life

Short Film (Live Action)

Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic

Source: ShowBizCafe.com