Ang Lee's gay-themed cowboy movie Brokeback Mountain is poised to ride into as many as 11 nominations for the 78th annual Academy Awards.

Tomorrow, the Calgary-filmed western is virtually guaranteed to lasso nominations for best picture, director, cinematography, adapted screenplay, original song, editing, music score and art direction.

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams will get nods for best actor and best supporting actress.

Jake Gyllenhaal has a dark horse chance of nabbing a well-deserved best supporting actor nomination but the competition in this category is particularly strong.

Anne Hathaway has little chance of a best supporting actress nomination.

All About Eve (1950) and Titanic (1997) still hold the record with 14 nominations each, but 11 is typical for a film with as much momentum as Brokeback Mountain has.

Brokeback Mountain's headlong race to the Oscars began in September when Lee was awarded the Golden Lion at the 2005 Venice Film Festival.

The film became the favourite of every major film critics association in North America and is a top contender at the British film awards.

It won best dramatic picture at last month's Golden Globes and was awarded the top-prize at the Producers Guild Award ceremony.

No other picture has anywhere near as much momentum, but Crash, Capote, Good Night, And Good Luck, Munich and Walk the Line are all vying for the other four best picture slots.

The only blockbuster film with a chance for a best picture nod is The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

Its $280-million US box office is almost as impressive as its special effects and that might sway Academy members who want to send a message to the major studios they still love them and their mega budgets.

Without a Narnia in the pack, the best picture race will consist of films made for less than $30 million.