http://oscar.go.com/nominees
What do you think?
- It seemed like Lincoln was a sure-fire Oscar contender from its very genesis as an idea: the most popular director of all time, arguably the greatest actor of the last 50 years, a screenplay by a great playwright, a lauded supporting cast, a look at our most famous, beloved president, a release date during an election year...
- This is the second film Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams have co-starred in together in which both of them were nominated (2008's Doubt being the other). Both actors have now been nominated four times in eight years.
- Every single one of the Best Supporting Actor and Actresses has been nominated before; there are only four first-time acting nominees: Bradley Cooper, Hugh Jackman, Emmanuelle Riva and Quvenzhane Wallis.
- At 85, Riva is the oldest Best Actress nominee ever; at 9, Wallis is the youngest.
- Ben Affleck might have been the most apparent snub; he seemed to be a shoo-in for Best Director; same with Zero Dark Thirty's Kathryn Bigelow.
- Again, no love for well-reviewed action blockbusters - Looper, The Hunger Games, Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall...
- Denzel hadn't been nominated since 2001; DeNiro since 1991! Helen Hunt since 1997.
- Jacki Weaver now competes with Janet McTeer for the title of the Most Obscure Two-Time nominee.
- Two Tarantino movies, two Oscar nods for Christoph Waltz.
- Most of the races seem wide, wide open - though I think Anne Hathaway might have her category locked down.
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Though the following were all long-shots (to say the least, in some cases) here are ten pieces of work I wish had been nominated:
- Josh Radnor's original screenplay for Liberal Arts, a somewhat autobiographical, likable, often incisive look at college life; two years into her film career, Elizabeth Olsen is already starting to seem overdue.
- Jack Black's performance in Bernie, a triumphant turn that worked on many levels; it'd be impossible to see anyone else in this role.
- Liam Neeson in The Grey. An overlooked movie. I think we take Neeson for granted - especially as a robust action star - but here he brings even more gravitas and soul than usual in this exciting movie that is also a poignant ode to time and nature.
- the cinematography of Premium Rush. This is the kind of first-rate B-movie that the Academy never acknowledges, but couldn't they have at least acknowledged the apparent difficulties of the location work?
- the screenplay for Friends With Kids. NPR had this on their list of the 12 Best Films of the Year, and I can dig that. There was a lot of truth, nervous energy, pinpoint neuroses, and humor in Jennifer Westfeldt's ode to stressed parents and non-parents in NYC.
- Yes, Matthew McConaughey in Magic Mike. Sometime when we weren't looking, McConaughey went and became a sensational, scene-stealing performer. His routine in front of the mirror was Brando-esque.
- Pitch Perfect's Rebel Wilson, who swipes the jubilant, appealing musical comedy as much as similarly chubby Melissa McCarthy did in Bridesmaids.
- Aubrey Plaza's breakout turn as the open-to-anything young writer in Safety Not Guaranteed. We believe everything she does.
- Samuel L. Jackson, who was the true heart of darkness - frightening, funny, flamboyant, pure steel - in Django Unchained.
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel... Something? Anything?
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