7 Make Oscar's Shortlist for Makeup

A queen, a mystic, a Vulcan, and a survivor of the Apocalypse are among those ready for their closeup.

The shortlist of contenders for nominations in the category of Best Makeup were announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Monday, with fantasy and science fiction tales dominating the category.

Members of the Academy's Makeup Branch will view excerpts from each of the seven shortlisted films on Sat., January 23, and will then vote for three films as Oscar nominees.

The films in the "bake-off" are:

The alien makeup of the sci-fi drama "District 9";

The Italian political drama "Il Divo," in which Toni Servillo, portraying prime minister and "Senator for Life" Giulio Andreotti, is aged over several decades;

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," Terry Gilliam's fantasy about an immortal mystic (Christopher Plummer), the Devil (Tom Waits), and a merry band of theatrical vagabonds;

The fantasy/comedy "Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian";

The rugged survivors in "The Road," Cormac McCarthy's post-apocalyptic tale;

"Star Trek," populated by a bevy of Vulcans, Romulans, Orions, and the newest addition to the "Star Trek" universe, a Kasia; and

"The Young Victoria," which captures the early years of the British monarch.

Nominations for the 82nd Academy Awards will be announced Tuesday, February 2, at 5:30 a.m. PT. The Oscars will be presented on Sunday, March 7, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center.