10 Movies to be Nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars from now on

Whoa! This is a crazy bit of news that comes from our own EMH who was listening to the radio in the car when it was announced that the Academy Awards will now choose 10 movies that will compete with each other for the Best Picture category instead of 5 from hear on out.

The will start the 10 best picture nominations starting with the next 82nd annual Oscar ceremony which is currently scheduled to happen on March 7, 2010 and the Kodak Theater in Hollywood. The announcement was made this morning morning at AMPAS headquarters in Beverly Hills by the Academy president Sid Ganis. Oscar nominations will be announced Feb. 2.

I don't know about you but 10 Best Picture nominations seems a little high doesn't it? Why 10? I thought five was a perfect number. Will they be able to include animated features in this top 10 like 'UP'? Will this allow them to add in some sci-fi, horror, comic book, and comedy films into the mix? That would be the only reason I could think of as to why they would double the amount of films nominated.

All I know is it is going to be much harder now to predict who will win at the Oscar parties for now on. What are your thoughts on the whole new 10 best picture naminations?