Although filmmakers are strongly lobbying the Academy, especially since the huge success of “Moulin Rouge” and “Chicago”, Oscars officials are refusing to revive the long-dormant “Best Musical” category on the grounds that there just aren’t enough eligible movies.

2004 did boast a group of adequate films, with “Ray”, “Beyond The Sea” and “The Phantom Of The Opera”. Those would be eliminated from the competition however, since none of them contain original songs. The ones that WOULD be eligible are “Team America”, Disney’s “Home On The Range” and the indy effort “Greendale”.

The Academy released a statement saying that three eligible movies overall was “not in keeping with the level of accomplishment needed for an Oscar nomination.”