Here are a handful of interesting (well, to me, at least) tidbits from yesterday’s announcement of the 82nd Annual Academy Award nominations.
1. Avatar received nine nominations but was left out of Best Screenplay. The last film to win Best Picture with out a screenplay nomination? James Cameron’s last nominee, Titanic.
2. Avatar wasn’t nominated for SAG Best Cast, lost the PGA and DGA awards, and is likely to lose the WGA prize later this month. Since the SAG Best Cast prize was introduced in 1996, no film has ever won Best Picture without winning at least one of the four major guild awards.
3. With four nominations, J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek reboot tied with Leonard Nimoy’s Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home for the most nods for a Trek film.
4. Up in the Air scored six nominations (including three for acting, more than any other movie) but was left out of Best Editing. No film has won Best Picture without an editing nomination since Ordinary People in 1981.
5. Up in the Air producers Jason and Ivan Reitman are the first father/son producing team to be nominated for Best Picture since Mario and Vittorio Cecchi Gori for Il Postino in 1995.
6. Precious is the first-ever Best Picture nominee to be directed by an African-American filmmaker.
7. Earning her 16th career acting nomination for Julie & Julia, Meryl Streep broke her own record—again—for the most nominated actor in Oscar history.
8. This year’s SAG nominees in the individual acting races lined up with the eventual acting nominees 19 for 20, the most ever. The only Oscar nominee not to earn a SAG nod first: Crazy Heart‘s Maggie Gyllenhaal.
9. If Avatar wins Best Picture, it’ll be the highest-grossing winner ever (obviously).
10. If The Hurt Locker wins Best Picture, it’ll be the lowest-grossing winner ever.
11. The last time Meryl Streep won an Oscar, in 1983, was before her competitors Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe were even born.
Anything I left out? If you’re into all this stuff as much as I am, school me! Oh, and follow me on Twitter too (@davekarger).
Hey Dave – Maggie G joins her brother with the “sibling” nomination for acting. She joins the following pairs: the Barrymoores, the Fondas, the Redgraves, the Phoenixes, the Robertses, the Tillys, MacLaine/Beatty, and DeHavilland/Fontaine. Are there others?
Dennis and Randy Quaid
Dennis has never been nominated.
The Bridges? I know Jeff has before, but what about Beau?
I love the dude
Lee Daniels becomes the second black director nominated- Kathryn Bigelow is the fourth female director nominated and second american female. The Blind Side is the first movie in yeeeeeaaars to be nominated for best picture with only 1 other nomination…
The last time a best picture nominee only had one other nomination was 1994, the film, Four Weddings and a Funeral. It was nominated for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.
Both the Blind Side and A Serious Man have two nominations, including best picture. Four Weddings and a Funeral, like A Serious Man, was nominated for only Best Picture and Original Screenplay in 1994 (don’t worry, it’s not like I’m crazy and I know that right off the top of my head; I looked it up).
Shoot…I’m crazy because I did know that…WOW.
“You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.” She placed the shell to her ear and sereamcd. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear. She never wants to go back! LoL I know this is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
oops sorry
FYI, “with out” should be without.
Actually, I heard that “with” and “out” are experiencing a trial separation.
Awesome
Could you be more of a dork?
Penelope Cruz became only the third woman in Oscar history to be nominated for Best Supporting Actress the year after winning the award for Best Supporting Actress in the previous year. The other two are Estelle Parsons in 1967 and 1968 and Lee Grant in 1975 and 1976.
Was Cate Blanchett nominated for “Notes on a Scandal” the year after winning for “The Aviator”?
The Aviator came out in 2004, NOAS came out in 2006.
Mo’Nique is the fourth talk-show host to be nominated for an Oscar (after Oprah, Greg Kinnear and Whoopi Goldberg), but only the second to be currently hosting a show when she got her nomination (Oprah had her show, but it was not yet national).
Curiously they all received their nominations in Supporting categories.
Whoopi has a lead actress nomination for color purple
But also a supporting for Ghost, which she actually won (Allowing her to EGOT!)
Tell me something I don’t know. Whoopi’s nominations are not just supporting like Gregoire implied.
Whoa! She DIDN’T win for the Color Purple? That’s a shocker. I thought she was better in that film than she was in Ghost.
NOBODY won for “The Color Purple”. It was one of the biggest losers in Oscar history (11 noms, no wins) tied with another movie – I believe it was “The Turning Point”.
Not only does “Avatar” not have a writing nomination, it also does not have any acting nominations. Now the last film to win Best Picture without any acting nominations was “Slumdog Millionaire” last year. BUT the last film to win Best Picture without having any Acting OR Writing nominations was “Grand Hotel” back in 1932, which famously had no nominations in any other category. The only other film to acheive this feat was the first winner for Best Picture “Wings”.
Considering that, I hope it is safe to say a film that does not have writing or acting worthy of an Oscar nom, is not worthy to be called the Best Picture.
I beg to differ. Remember that there are only five slots for writing and acting. FIVE slots out of all the thousands of performances and hundreds of screenplays in one year. Just because it didn’t crack the top five, doesn’t mean it doesn’t deserve a win.
Actually, it does.
what about “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King”? it won best picture without any acting nominations
Technically, there are 10 slots for screenplay and 20 spots for acting.
But Return of the King still had a screenplay nomination (which it won). Avatar has neither an acting nod, nor a screenplay nod.
I agree, how can it be the Best Pic if it doesn’t even get nominated for any acting or writing
Spectacle. Avatar puts knocking socks off first, fidelity to human experience and sensibility farther down. If a picture knocks off more socks, and does so more reliably than any other film in the field, maybe it is the best picture even if another movie (e.g. Hurt Locker, Up in the Air) engages every sympathetic device in your cranium. Not saying it is, but maybe it could be.
Tech awards then for spectacle.
If I have to tell you one more time… get off the computer and go clean your room!
i love this ^
Typical nerd pretending to be someone else…lol…guess he got tired of playing WOW and being a wizard now he wants to be a woman. Daddy must be so proud.
Next you’re going to tell me that you are not a Shamrock. GTFO
How can you have acting noms when there’s no acting?
How can you type on the internet when you’re that stupid?
Yeah, because the actors really are 9 foot tall blue people who live in a giant tree and sex with their tails. No acting involved at all.
There’s plenty of acting. Look up the video for how it was made.
That Cameron and Bigelow are ex-sposes. Is this the first time this has ever happened?
yeah
UP is the first 100% cgi film ever nominated for an oscar..
And that should read “UP is the first 100% cgi ever nominated for a BEST PICTURE oscar”
And that should also read that UP is the first ever Pixar movie nominated for a Best Picture oscar (it should have been Wall-E last year, but…)
Point 10 is wrong. Obviously movies in the 20s, 30s, and 40s grossed less than The Hurt Locker due to inflation… but I don’t have access to that information… you could argue in attendance but you did not, so… you’re wrong… and technically, your statement that Meryl Streep is the most oscar-nominated actor is wrong, since Woody Allen is an actor with more nominations (22 I believe)…. so you’d have to say, most acting nominations…
ugh
stop being so rube dude.
Woody Allen only has one nomination for acting; Meryl has 16. She wins. He was nominated for screenplay and director in his other ones. I’m sure the author meant in acting.
Plus, I would argue that since Woody Allen refers to himself as a director first and foremost, he wouldn’t be an actor that has more nominations, but a director who happens to have a single acting nomination.
douchebag much?
If you account for inflation Avatar wouldn’t be the highest grosses film to win best picture either. On the list of highest grossing films when you account for inflation it is 26th. Gone With the Wind is number one.
Avatar is not 26th. Get your facts right. Not that inflation tells the full story.
According to Box Office Mojo, it’s #21 now. Way to get your facts from an already-outdated EW article (it was #26 at the time the article was written but has made a boatload of money since then).
Gigi (1958) is the most recent Best Picture winner to gross less domestically than The Hurt Locker.
Of course, tickets were 51 cents average back then, so we can safely say Hurt Locker would be the worst-selling BP of all time.
Really? I could’ve sworn the least grossing Best Picture was ’87′s “The Last Emperor”.
@Balthazar “Point 10 is wrong. Obviously movies in the 20s, 30s, and 40s grossed less than The Hurt Locker due to inflation” – actually, there is a good chance it is true, adjusted for inflation or not. Gone with the Wind grossed $198 million in 1939, certainly earlier winners made more than Locker’s 15 million.
I don’t know for sure, but at with a stunning 67% of the time, Jason Reitman has to have set the record for the highest percentage of a director’s films to be nominated for both Best Director and Best Picture (2/3 of his feature films have this distinction).
Stephen Daldry did it before him. Plus daldry is 3/3 in directing nominations. Even more impressive.
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Stephen Daldry matches Reitman’s percentage, for The Reader and The Hours. In addition, Daldry was nommed for Best Director for Billy Elliot back in 2000 (although the picture itself wasn’t nommed).
Ah, right you are!! I stand corrected. Ok, well then Jason Rietman is the YOUNGEST to achieve this awesome percentage (and he beats Dalry’s achievement by an impressive 15 years – ages at time: 47 and 32).
Yeah but Stephen Daldry actually has an unfortunate cloud hanging over his nomination: The success of his film, and in turn his directing nomination over Christopher Nolan, was proof that the Academy is filled with pretentious morons who would take a so-so holocaust movie over a wildly entertaining, thought provoking, well written and directed blockbuster. Bare in mind that the Reader’s inclusion in the BP race was to an extent the ENTIRE impetus of the new BP format. So while it may be impressive, I don’t know how much of a point of pride should be considered
By the way, I am not saying that Box Office is everything or anything to be clear: I have my feet firmly placed in Team Hurt Locker. Just pointing out an Academy bias AGAINST summer blockbuster type films, regardless of quality.
I thought Kathryn Bigelow was Canadian, not American. And as James Cameron’s ex-wife, two Canadians in lead for best director?
She is American, but you are right about two Canadians. Cameron and Reitman
As a Canadian, I should point out that the last time Cameron was nominated (for “Titanic”) he was up against another Canadain, Atom Egoyan for “The Sweet Hereafter”. I will agree that Egoyan, without his film getting a Best Picture nod, was never considered “in the lead”.
Allow me to point out that this year is the first one we have 10 best pic nominees. And as we can imagine,if there were only 5 nominees,TBS would have no chance to be nominated for best pic. So in that sense, either Meryl(my fav.) or Sabu win wouldn’t break this trend.
In the 30s and 40s, the number of Best Picture nominees fluctuated between 8 and 12, depending on the year. Definitely more practical at that time, with the studio system churning out many more films than Hollywood now produces annually.
Every other year since 1998, the Best Actress winner alternates between being from a Best Picture nominee to not being in a Best Picture nominee.
Gwyneth Paltrow was in a BP nominee.
Hilary Swank was not.
Julia Roberts was in a BP nominee.
Halle Berry was not.
Nicole Kidman was in a BP nominee.
Charlize Theron was not.
Hilary Swank was in a BP nominee.
Reese Witherspoon was not.
Helen Mirren was in a BP nominee.
Marion Cotillard was not.
Kate Winslet was in a BP nominee.
…but The Blind Side DID get a BP nominee this year. Meryl Streep is the one who’d continue this trend, which may just be completely broken up by the introduction of 10 nominees.
Some what similar trivia question: this is the third time since 1982 that the majority of the Best Actress nominees are from Best Picture nominees. Quickly, expert trivia bluffs: what were the other two years?
(I’m going to disqualify you, Ibad. You’ve clearly put a lot of thought into the Best Actress / Best Picture results already!)
And that was a terrific, multifaceted year too!
(And once again Meryl, in an un-nominated film, lost to America’s Sarcastic Sweetheart in a crowdpleaser and Best Pic nominee.)
Oh, I was talking the first of the two years before 2010. Not spoiling either one!
But forget 1982, the last time it happened before then was 1977–wow, all 5 nominees were in Best Picture nominees!
1987
Cher – Moonstruck
Glenn Close – Fatal Attraction
Holly Hunter – Broadcast News
1996
Brenda Blethyn – Secrets & Lies
Frances McDormand – Fargo
Kristen Scott Thomas – The English Patient
Full bragging rights for Mac!
Ibadm Helen Mirren (The Last Station) is also one who’d continue this trend.
Allow me to point out that this year is the first one we have 10 best pic nominees. And as we can imagine,if there were only 5 nominees,TBS would have no chance to be nominated for best pic. So in that sense, either Meryl(my fav.) or Sabu win wouldn’t break this trend.
actually every year, up to the win for casablanca, had 10 best picture nominees. it is the first time since 1944 to acheive this feat!
That is beyond nuts! Wow.
“Avatar” is highest grossing because of $13+ per ticket for 3-D Imax. “Gone With The Wind” is still highest grossing EVER in adjusted dollars…..and a MUCH better movie!
Great, now you’ve do it. Now the Avatards are going to come after you with “there was no internet, DVDs or other media outlets back then to compete for GWTW’s attention”
Shamrock… get a life. Seriously!
No kidding. The little brat is obsessed. He throws an online temper tantrum every time Avatar is mentioned.
I am an avatard! woot! Can’t you just realize Avatar is an inferior film?
@Woot Can’t you just realize that you are an inferior human being?
Pwn, thank you for making the world aware that you are a douchebag. A quite clever douchebag, but still a douchebag none the less. Sorry I don’t think avatar isn’t the greatest movie of all time and think its a superior movie. Most people think it is an inferior movie (story wise, don’t even try to argue it.) Visual wise, fine its superior. My point is, I hate you.
Love you right back, Woot. No movie is universally beloved. Heck, I’ve met people that can’t stand Gone with the Wind, Star Wars and The Godfather. However, to claim that most people think that Avatar is inferior is simply asinine. 82% of critics gave the film favorable ratings at Rotten Tomatoes and 84% at Metacritic. Top critics gave it a 94% favorable rating. Moviegoers polled at both Box Office Mojo and Cinemascore gave the film a resounding A to A+. On top of that, virtually every major industry guild, and now the Academy, have acknowledged Avatar’s numerous achievements. The vast majority of people have spoken and think Cameron’s film is a superior work. Now excuse me while I try to decipher your horribly written third sentence.
Pwn:
1. I guarantee I am smarter than you.
2. Really 82%= the most universally loved film? Is that a joke. Compare Avatar’s rottentomato score to Up! and The Hurt Locker (98% for both…. seems to be more universally loved.)
3. Not going to lie I had some grammatical issues in my retort because I was so pissed at you that I was writing with hate and didn’t bother to check.
4. And let me say again, most people who saw Avatar enjoyed it simply for it’s visuals. Almost everyone who loved it, admitted that the story was sub par.
5. And actually Avatar has yet to win any of the major industry guild awards…. (DGA, PGA both voted for The Hurt Locker.)
6. Did I mention I hate you?
Woot:
1. Based on your poor reading comprehension, I guarantee that you are not.
2. Nowhere did I say that Avatar is the most universally loved film ever. I said that no movie is adored by everyone. Every film has its’ detractors. Yes, Up and The Hurt Locker have a higher critical rating. So?
3. For that, I would suggest you take your blood pressure medication before you get so worked up about a bunch of silly posts that few will ever see.
4. Most people who saw Transformers 2 enjoyed it simply for the visuals. Virtually everyone I know(family, friends, workplace acquaintances), loved Avatar for the look AND the engaging, dramatic story.
5. Again, it has. So? I never said The Hurt Locker is an inferior film. I could criticize it. All of my military friends despise that movie because it purports to be accurate, but in fact is incredibly unrealistic in regards to situations on the ground in Iraq and protocol. However, my simple point is not about that, it’s about your inane comment that Avatar is inferior. Given my corroborative evidence, it clearly isn’t. If you don’t like the film, that is your right. Nevertheless, you’re in the minority. Avatar is widely considered an example of superior filmmaking from every major group: critics, moviegoers and industry.
6. Did I mention I only have affection for you?
Awww Pwn you are so nice. I can’t deny that i misread your post, most likely because I am getting such sporadic sleep. I guess we just have different friends, because everyone i seem to know likes Avatar purely for its visuals. No The Hurt Locker is not perfect, neither is Up! I didn’t actually get worked up over post, its just fun to have online fights with someone you don’t know, you can’t deny that. Avatar is very well directed, and made but still my stance will not change that Avatar is far from the best film of the year. I don’t believe I am in the minority about feeling that Avatar is good, just not exceptional. Many people agree that the story is unoriginal, and the dialogue at times can be quite cheesy. For the record I’m sure your a very intelligent person, and despite my extremely poor reading comprehension in this argument, so am I
Aww. A happy ending. Sorry, had to say that.
@Shamrock
Great, now youv’e done it, now all the avatar haters are gonna flock to this post knowing the avatards are coming. It’s just one big viscous cylce isn’t it?
Yeah, that was a real fire they road through. Ok, so they were burning down the King Kong set and it was stunt people riding through, but it was timed so they could film it for the burning of Atlanta.
Dave- Streep finally surpasses K. Hepburn with the most best actress/actor nominations. Streep now has 13 and Hepburn had 12.
Streep now has sixteen. She passed Katherine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson (tied with 12) a long time ago.
I think this refers to lead actor category, excluding supporting nominations.
Three of Meryl’s 16 noms were for Supporting Actress. All 12 of Katherine’s were for lead actress. Michelle is correct. Meryl has hit made another Oscar record.
Yes, but in total acting nods, including support, Streep has 16 to Hepburns 12.
It’s spelled KathArine Hepburn, fercrissakes people. That is driving me crazy.
uh, it’s spelled “for christ’s sake” that drives ME crazy. and btw, sake is singular.
Actually, it is “For Christ’s Sake”. Christ is a proper noun, so it gets capitolized, if you want to stay nitpicky. That drives me crazy.
Katharine Hepburn was 60 when she won her second lead actress oscar and Meryl streep is 60 now and could win her second lead actress oscar at the same age as katharine. Completely pointless and random bit of trivia and it probably won’t happen thanks to SaBu
Christopher Plummer if he wins will tie with Jessica Tandy and George Burns as the oldest winners at age 80.
But he won’t. Waltz has that wrapped up.