Movies: Academy Awards: Nominations for Oscar Awards 2012 are annnounced by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

84th Academy Awards. Nominations

First the nominations, then a few notes after the list.

BEST PICTURE

The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

DIRECTING
The Artist, Michel Hazanavicius
The Descendants, Alexander Payne
Hugo, Martin Scorsese
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
The Tree of Life, Terrence Malick

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Mubi (January24,2k12)

Written by David Hudson

— Reposted by Movieman, refWrite Backpage movies columnist

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general editor, refWrite Backpage

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ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Demián Bichir in A Better Life
George Clooney in The Descendants
Jean Dujardin in The Artist
Gary Oldman in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt in Moneyball

ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Kenneth Branagh in My Week with Marilyn
Jonah Hill in Moneyball
Nick Nolte in Warrior
Christopher Plummer in Beginners
Max von Sydow in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Glenn Close in Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis in The Help
Rooney Mara in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep in The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Bérénice Bejo in The Artist
Jessica Chastain in The Help
Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer in Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer in The Help

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Movies: Oscars: Elbowing out Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, the Oscar cult celebrates its week

Roger Friedman reports in his Fox 411 email newsletter (Feb19,27):

Oscar Week Begins:
All Hail Helen and ForestAt last, we are at the start of Oscar week. It’s a good thing, too. Dreamgirls needs about a day and a half to reach $100 million. The snubbed musical came “this close” over the weekend to the magic number, but fell short about $750,000.

But Oscar week 2007, if there is any justice (and usually there isn’t) in Hollywood, should belong to Martin Scorsese. After near misses with The Aviator and Gangs of New York, America’s finest director looks certain to pick up Best Director this Sunday night and maybe even Best Picture. I can only say maybe. Scorsese fans have been disappointed too many times.

What is certain about Sunday night? This much: Helen Mirren, Forest Whitaker, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson.

Queen Helen is so certain that Dame Judi Dench, whose performance in Notes on a Scandal is incendiary, is skipping the show to have knee surgery. She’s not being a sore loser, but simply practical in a Dame Judi way. She’s got to get back on the London stage. And she already has an Oscar (1999, Shakespeare in Love).

What’s uncertain: Is Peter O'Toole going to come back to Hollywood just to watch Whitaker win? O’Toole had a grand time at the nominees’ luncheon and then went home to England. Making the long trip back does seem pointless if he doesn't think he'll win, but O’Toole’s presence should enliven things.

And what about the spoilers? Little Miss Sunshine, a dark-horse film that was birthed at Sundance, could upset everything with a Best Picture win. Based on its Screen Actors Guild award for Best Cast — as well as producers and writers’ guild nods — Sunshine could throw a dark shadow across Scorsese’s The Departed. Stranger things have happened.

Meanwhile, the real drama of the weekend may wind up with the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday. After a few seasons of paralleling the Oscar nominations, this year the Spirits have chosen more of an independent path.

Best Feature should be a dog fight between Little Miss Sunshine and Half Nelson. Best Male Lead, I hope, will go to Ryan Gosling for Half Nelson.

As for Best Female Lead? The real fun would be if Catherine O'Hara gets it for For Your Consideration. Talk about making a catty statement to the Academy Awards!

Mr Friedman's judgment is always at the top for me, but I dare say the darkhorse has its own merits. So I'm divided on what to look forward to on that one matter.