The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences unveils the Oscar poster

Now that the nomination ballots for the 84th Academy Awards are on their way to the 5,783 voting members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, officials were able to get on with the business at hand -- promoting Oscar.

Among the traditions that follow the mailing of the ballots is the unveiling of the official poster. While the iconic Oscar statuette is still a prominent figure, this year's poster also features a montage of memorable images from eight films spanning eight decades. Among the shadows of the past are scenes from "Gone with the Wind" (1939), "Casablanca" (1943), "Giant" (1956), "The Sound of Music" (1965), "The Godfather" (1972), "Driving Miss Daisy" (1989), "Forrest Gump" (1994) and "Gladiator" (2000).

Who will get an Oscar nod this year?

How about "War Horse" and "The Help" for Best Picture?

Alan Rickman

Joseph Gordon-Levitt for "50/50" and Alan Rickman as "Severus Snape" in "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" for Best Actor.

Meryl Streep

How about the Oscar nomination for Best Actress? Will it be Meryl Streep for her portrayal of Britain's gutsy Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in "Iron Lady" or Glenn Close as the 19th century man in "Albert Nobbs?" I'm betting both.

Glenn Close

We'll have to wait and see. The 84th Academy Awards nominations will be officially announced on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

TODAY'S MUSE

Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work -- Rita Mae Brown