Noticeably missing from the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.'s best picture nominees list was "United 93." The drama about the ill-fated Sept. 11 flight hijacked by terrorists had made strong showings this week with recognition from the Los Angeles Film Critics Assn. for best director and best film of the year from the New York Film Critics Circle.

Other oversights: Actors Ryan Gosling in "Half Nelson," Djimon Hounsou in "Blood Diamond," Michael Sheen for "The Queen," actress Abigail Breslin for "Little Miss Sunshine," and director Bill Condon for "Dreamgirls."

Vying for best motion picture comedy or musical are the mockumentary "Borat," the fashionista comedy "The Devil Wears Prada," the musical-drama "Dreamgirls," the acerbic "Little Miss Sunshine," and the satirical "Thank You for Smoking."

Best actress in a drama nominees are Mirren for "The Queen," Penelope Cruz for her role as the mother of a young daughter in "Volver," Judi Dench as a malevolent schoolteacher in "Notes on a Scandal," Maggie Gyllenhaal as a former drug addicted ex-con in "Sherrybaby" and Kate Winslet as a restless young mother in "Little Children."

Best actor in a comedy or musical are Ejiofor for "Kinky Boots," Sacha Baron Cohen for the oversexed TV reporter in "Borat," Johnny Depp as a swaggering brigand in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest," Aaron Eckhart as a slick tobacco industry spokesman in "Thank You for Smoking" and Will Ferrell as a man who hears voices in "Stranger Than Fiction."

Best actress in a comedy or musical went to Bening for "Running with Scissors," Collette for "Little Miss Sunshine," Knowles for "Dreamgirls," Meryl Streep as a high strung fashion editor for "The Devil Wears Prada" and Renee Zellweger as the famed children's author in "Miss Potter."

Director Mel Gibson's drunken, anti-Semitic tirade didn't appear to hinder his ability to earn a Golden Globe nomination. His film, "Apocalypto," which is in Mayan, earned a nomination for best foreign language film along with "Letters From Iwo Jima," an intimate look at the World War II battle from the Japanese perspective. Other nominees included Germany's "Lives of Others," Mexico's "Pan's Labyrinth" and Spain's "Volver."

"Letters," which has had a strong showing so far this awards season among critics associations, couldn't be nominated in the best picture category because it is in a foreign language.

In the best supporting actor for film category, Ben Affleck was nominated for his role as TV's fated "Superman" in "Hollywoodland." Other nominees in that category were Eddie Murphy as an ill-fated R&B singer in "Dreamgirls," Jack Nicholson as a colorful Irish mobster in "The Departed," Pitt as a husband who desperately attempts to seek help for his wounded wife in "Babel" and Mark Wahlberg as a revenge seeking Boston cop, also in "The Departed."

Vying for best supporting actress in a film are Blunt in "The Devil Wears Prada," Jennifer Hudson as an ousted R&B singer in "Dreamgirls," Cate Blanchett as a straying teacher in "Notes on a Scandal," Rinko Kikuchi as a troubled deaf mute Japanese teen in "Babel," and Adriana Barraza as an illegal immigrant, also from "Babel."

In the animated film category, it's likely to be a showdown between "Cars" and the penguin musical comedy "Happy Feet." The other nominee is "Monster House." So far this award season, "Happy Feet" has been the favorite among critics groups.

On the television side, best TV series drama nominees were "24," "Big Love," "Grey's Anatomy," "Heroes" and "Lost." In the comedy series category, the nominees are "Desperate Housewives," "Entourage," "The Office," "Ugly Betty" and "Weeds."

Nominees for best actor in a dramatic TV series are Patrick Dempsey for "Grey's Anatomy," Michael C. Hall for "Dexter," Hugh Laurie for "House," Bill Paxton for "Big Love" and Kiefer Sutherland for "24." Vying for best actress in a drama series are Patricia Arquette for "Medium," Edie Falco for "The Sopranos," Evangeline Lily for "Lost," Ellen Pompeo for "Grey's Anatomy" and Kyra Sedgwick for "The Closer."

The 64th annual Golden Globe award show will be held Monday, Jan. 15. The three-hour ceremony will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and telecast on NBC.