It's widely known that the Golden Globes nominating committee, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, puts forward some strange contenders -- Johnny Depp for Best Actor in "The Tourist" and "Alice In Wonderland" for Best Picture in 2010 -- and this year is no exception.

Notably, how can two "Django Unchained" actors (Leonardo DiCaprio, Christoph Waltz) be nominated without giving the lead actor, Jamie Foxx, his due? All three were terrific, so the decision-making on that one seems a bit questionable.

Thankfully the committee also bestowed some pleasant surprises. This year, under-the-radar films including "Salmon Fishing In The Yemen" and "The Deep Blue Sea" got nods, while brilliant performances that not many people have seen (like Jack Black in "Bernie") are also getting some attention.

Here is our list of notable snubs and surprises from this year's Golden Globe nominations:

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  • SURPRISE: "Salmon Fishing On The Yemen"

    This is our favorite surprise. This lovely, delightful film -- which was nominated for Best Picture, while both its stars got Best Acting nods -- is funny, cute and not your typical rom-com. Featuring genuine humor and great chemistry between Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor, it's nice to see it get some recognition.

  • SNUB: Jamie Foxx, "Django Unchained"

    Despite the heavy competition in the best acting field, this one is truly unbelievable. The movie is about Django -- played by Foxx. Tarantino has even said that this is his most in-depth character <em>ever</em>, so in our eyes it is a major miss on the Globes' part.

  • SNUB: "ParaNorman"

    This playful masterpiece by the makers of "Coraline" didn't make the cut, it seems. It's unfortunate because "ParaNorman" was fun, clever and genius in terms of its animation.

  • SURPRISE: Nicole Kidman, "The Paperboy"

    After all the negative reviews of the movie, it was surprising to see <em>anyone</em> get nominated. Kidman may have gotten the nod for the sheer oddity of the role, and for making us feel uncomfortable at certain points. Yes, she was very good at that.

  • SNUB: "The Hobbit"

    Ouch. Years of planning, direction and anticipation led to a complete shut-out of this Peter Jackson epic. Word is its meandering flow and the dreaded "48 FPS" issue did it in.

  • SURPRISE: "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

    The Boomers have spoken! This movie was universally praised and completely deserving of the nomination.

  • SNUB: "Anna Karenina"

    "Anna Karenina" was nominated for Best Score, but in terms of acting awards, it was completely snubbed. Even leading lady Knightley couldn't secure one. It's a tad surprising, considering the award-friendliness of the movie.

  • SURPRISE: Jack Black, "Bernie"

    You have to see it to believe it, but Black nails this role with such fervor it's no surprise that he was nominated. He sings, he dances (sorta) and is amazingly charismatic onscreen. Definitely deserved.

  • SNUB: "Beasts Of The Southern Wild"

    Praise was plentiful for this touching film at the beginning of the year, but it slowly died off as time went on. It goes to show that timing is everything when it comes to awards.

  • SURPRISE: Rachel Weisz, "The Deep Blue Sea"

    Have you even heard of this movie? Exactly.

  • SNUB: "Skyfall"

    Despite being the top-grossing film in the UK <em>ever</em>, this sprawling action film just couldn't get the nod. It might have in a less intensely competitive year, but alas, it just wasn't in the cards.

  • SURPRISE: Leonardo DiCaprio, "Django Unchained"

    Often overlooked when it comes to awards, it's nice to see DiCaprio get a nomination, especially for such a great performance.

  • SNUB: "Cloud Atlas"

    It's not really a surprise, considering the critical reception, but when you contemplate the amount of money spent on this film, it's a bit of a crying shame. Tom Hanks, we're starting to worry about you.

  • SURPRISE: Bill Murray, "Hyde Park On Hudson"

    While Murray's performance as FDR has been praised from the start, the feedback on the movie itself hasn't been as great. As a result, it was widely thought that he wouldn't get the nod. Playing a dead president usually does the trick, though.

  • SNUB: Matthew McConaughey

    McConaughey has had a great year, and the buzz seemed to be on his side, which is why we're surprised he didn't even get a passing mention. We'll chalk it up to intense competition coming from all sides. No one can beat those abs, though.

  • SURPRISE: Richard Gere, "Arbitrage"

    Gere had gotten praise for his performance in this cerebral thriller, but had fallen off the awards radar some time ago. We wholeheartedly support this surprise, the man deserves it.

  • SNUB: Tom Hooper For "Les Miserables"

    "Les Mis" has been getting non-stop accolades, so why no nomination for the director? Seems odd that the "The King's Speech" director wouldn't get some recognition for successfully transplanting the musical to the big screen.

  • SURPRISE: Taylor Swift, "The Hunger Games"

    The country darling's legions of fans will be pleasantly surprised when their favorite performer performs her "Hunger Games" song "Safe And Sound" at the ceremony. At least, we think she will -- why would the producers say no to one of the hottest music stars alive right now?

RELATED: Complete List of Golden Globe Nominees

Moviefone's Complete Golden Globes Coverage

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