Photograph of Kathy Bates and AMPAS President Sid Ganis announcing the nominations by Chris Pizzello/AP
While the writers' strike continues and prospects of an awards ceremony are unclear, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences went ahead and announced the contenders for their 80th annual back-slapping ceremony. Oscar-winning friend of the academy Kathy Bates was on hand to announce this year's golden picks. From Bob Dylan to Michael Clayton, many of the nominations were familiar after this awards season, though some surprises emerged. Nominees from the main categories are after the jump, but here are some NYC nomination notes:
- NYU-alum Tamara Jenkins for best original screenplay for The Savages
- Michael Clayton, a mostly New York production, earned a total of seven nominations
- New York-based actors Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney - and co-stars in The Savages- were recognized for their work in Charlie Wilson's War and The Savages respectively
- Perhaps the big surprise (besides Juno getting nominated for Best Director and Best Picture) was Ruby Dee for her work in American Gangster (its only other nomination was for art direction)
Then of course there is Julian Schnabel, whose film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly got a nomination for direction. NYMag doesn't think this will be enough for him, however. Some other notes:
- Angelina Jolie wasn't nominated for A Mighty Heart
- The Academy had less Anglophilia this year, as Atonement was shut out of Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor
- The critically acclaimed Zodiac was shut out
- "Falling Slowly" from Once was nominated (yay!)
- Jonny Greenwood is ineligible for his work on the There Will Be Blood score (boo!)
- Four of the five documentaries nominated are related to the Iraq war (the fifth is Michael Moore's Sicko);
- If the axiom about Best Picture winners having a film editing nomination is true, than No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood are the two Best Picture front runners
The main nominations are after the jump and who do you think should win an Oscar this year?
