Best-Picture Shutout Ends Miramax's 11-Year Run

Miramax's best picture nomination streak dates to 1992's "The Crying Game," which was nominated in 1993. In every subsequent year, the studio had at least one -- and, in a couple of cases, two -- best picture nominees. Occasionally, Miramax managed to win a best picture nomination for a longshot such as 2000's "Chocolat" and 2001's "In the Bedroom." The studio took home the top trophy on three occasions: for "The English Patient," 1998's "Shakespeare in Love" and 2002's "Chicago."

Miramax is also confident that by this time next year it will be back in the middle of the best picture race. Its upcoming films include "The Aviator" with Leonardo DiCaprio, "J.M. Barrie's Neverland" with Johnny Depp and "An Unfinished Life" featuring Robert Redford.

Weinstein said he was particularly proud of "City of God's" nominations. "It's a vindication to people who said we don't make small movies anymore," he said of the film about criminal gangs. "It just shows that our core business is healthy."

Miramax's other nominations also came from smaller films: "The Barbarian Invasions," which had two, and -- with one apiece -- "Twin Sisters" and "Dirty Pretty Things."

"Even though 'Cold Mountain' and 'City of God' didn't get a best picture nomination, I'm very thrilled to lead the pack," Weinstein said, noting that a recent critic of his, Sony Pictures Classics, had 11 fewer nominations than Miramax. "So even without a best picture nomination, we can beat every other studio, and every other independent."

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Oscar nods

Movies with the most Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday. Miramax's "Cold Mountain" is the only one not nominated for best picture.

Lord of the Rings...11

Master and Commander...10

Cold Mountain...7

Seabiscuit...7

Mystic River...6

Times staff writer Rachel Abramowitz contributed to this report.