By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News

This year's Golden Globe nominations have left Hollywood none the wiser as to who and what will go on to Oscar glory.

Will Day-Lewis be named best actor for There Will Be Blood?

The Golden Globes can usually be relied upon to identify the main runners and riders in the run-up to the Academy Awards in February.

This year, however, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association seems as unsure as everyone else as to which actors, directors and movies are the most deserving.

No less than seven titles are up for the best drama award, with another five nominated in the best musical or comedy category.

And while British war yarn Atonement has the most nominations - seven in all - this is no guarantee it will sweep the board.

After all, Babel was up for the same amount last year and only ended up with a single statuette.

Contenders

Nor did it go on to be crowned best picture at the Oscars - a prize that eventually went to crime thriller The Departed.

Even if one were to correctly predict this year's Globe recipients, then, it is by no means assured that success at the Academy Awards will follow.

Will Depp (left) be recognised for his singing in Sweeney Todd?

But on the basis of the critics' awards that have already been handed out, a few contenders with more of a shot than others can be picked out.

Daniel Day-Lewis might be considered an early favourite for his powerhouse portrayal of a turn-of-the-century oil prospector in There Will Be Blood.

Recognition of Julie Christie's moving turn as an Alzheimer's sufferer in Away from Her would see the actress's Oscar chances increase exponentially.

Cate Blanchett's striking performance as Bob Dylan in musical biopic I'm Not There has seen the Australian star receive a best supporting actress nomination.

Going by honours already bestowed, though, relative newcomer Amy Ryan appears a more likely Globe recipient for her role as a neglectful mother in child abduction thriller Gone Baby Gone.

Formality

On the same basis, the Coen brothers' thriller No Country for Old Men would seem the film to beat in the best drama category.

And why was Sean Penn's film Into the Wild so overlooked?

Sweeney Todd, meanwhile, should be named best musical or comedy, with further Globes glory possible for lead actor Johnny Depp.

With the HFPA's nominations spread fairly evenly between 10 different titles, it remains one of the most open Oscar races for years.

Last year Dame Helen Mirren won just about every acting honour going, making her Oscar victory for The Queen a formality.

With the possible exception of No Country for Old Men star Javier Bardem - many pundits' selection for the year's best supporting actor - there is no equivalent sure-fire bet as the awards season begins to gain momentum.

Where the Globe nominations can be helpful, though, is in suggesting some candidates that may have fallen out of favour.

Where, for example, is Sean Penn's drama Into the Wild?