By Susan King and Lisa Rosen

Guessing the best picture Oscar winner is like spinning a roulette wheel of elements: the total number of nominations, previous wins among cast and crew, relevance of subject matter, even the political climate. Although "Slumdog Millionaire" may be the odds-on favorite, it doesn't hurt to look at where the ball has dropped before. While all five films are, of course, original works of art, films with similar themes have connected with academy voters in the past. So, to add to the rampant speculation, here's a look at this year's nominees, along with some winners from years past that they resemble.