I get suspicious every time I hear the words "Oscar buzz" in connection with a new movie. No one ever says that about a Dax Shepard flick or anything starring Pierce Brosnan. Nor the Bond movies — no matter how good they are.

Oscar voters would even ignore a Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan romantic comedy, and we don’t have to get up early on the nominations morning to find that out.

So coming across the "Reminder List of Eligible Releases for Distinguished Achievements during 2006" on the Oscar.org Web site was a bit of a shock. I mean, I know all films released in movie theaters during the calendar year could be nominated, theoretically, but finding some of the dogs on this "for your consideration" list still was unnerving.

Who ever thought, for example, that Oscar would want to remind voters that they could, if they so chose, vote for "Let’s Go to Prison"? "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector"? "Beerfest"?

I choke at the thought that anyone would seriously consider Vin Diesel’s "Find Me Guilty" for an Oscar, which is unfair, I know, because I haven’t seen it. Same for "Basic Instinct 2," which actually features some excellent actors: Charlotte Rampling, David Thewlis, Hugh Dancy.

One of my favorite actresses is Jennifer Coolidge. Remember her bashful beauty-shop worker in "Legally Blonde," or any of her daffy performances in Christopher Guest’s movies (including this year’s "For Your Consideration," about a horrible film that somehow gets Oscar buzz)? But I fear that her reputation among Oscar voters sinks every time she appears in flicks like "Date Movie," starring Alyson Hannigan.

What I really loved to see were the movies that probably were Oscar contenders — in the filmmakers’ minds.

"Black Dahlia" has a heavyweight cast, including Oscar winner Hilary Swank, Scarlett Johansson, Aaron Eckhart and Fiona Shaw. Unfortunately, it also stars Josh Hartnett, which is sort of like buying a huge "NOT For Your Consideration" ad. Also on this list is "Don’t Come Knocking," starring Sam Shepard, Jessica Lange and Tim Roth. Never heard of it.

I completely missed "A Good Woman," too, which is weird, given that Oscar winner Helen Hunt starred in it and there were so many "Good" movies this year — "The Good German," "The Good Shepherd."

"Ask the Dust" sounds like an Oscar title, and it’s got some major screen-chewers: Colin Farrell, Salma Hayek and Donald Sutherland. Ignored it.