Sean Penn's Into The Wild leads the way in the Broadcast Film Critics Association awards, with seven nominations.
The actor-director's film of a young man who gives up home comforts for the life of a hobo is up for Best Picture, Best Actor (Emile Hirsch) and Best Director (Penn), among others.
It puts the broadcast critics (representing TV, radio and online reviewers) at odds with their print counterparts who were less impressed with Penn's work. Metacritic, which averages out all marks received, gives Into The Wild a score of 73 - good, but not outstanding, and not nearly enough to make it in their top 15 of the year.
But they have a good record of predicting Oscar success, last year rewarding Scorsese for The Departed and three of the four actors and actresses.
Other films in their spotlight this year include Atonement, No Country For Old Men, Michael Clayton and Sweeney Todd, all with five nominations.
The ceremony will take place in Santa Monica on Jan 7.