Aademy says only 5 pictures may be nominated for best picture, or perhaps 6, maybe 8

The Motion Picture Academy, two years after doubling the number of best picture nominees from five, is changing the way the game is played again. Beginning this year, only those films collecting at least 5 percent of all the first place votes will be nominated, although the number will be capped at 10. That means anywhere between 5 and 10 films will be nominated for best picture in 2012.

The accounting firm of Price Waterhouse says if this plan had been in place between 2001 and 2008, there would have years in which five, six, seven, eight and nine nominees would have made the cut.

“A best picture nomination should be an indication of extraordinary merit,” said retiring Academy executive director Bruce Davis. “If there are only eight pictures that earn that honor in a given year, we shouldn’t feel an obligation to round out that number.”

I agree. I think this is a far better plan than the one passed two years ago just because some were upset when The Dark Knight did not get a best picture nod.