By a Front Row Features Staff Report
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” marks Gary Oldman’s first ever Oscar nomination. He is nominated in the Best Actor category for his performance as fictional British spy George Smiley.
Neither Leonardo DiCaprio nor Clint Eastwood received a nomination for “J. Edgar.” In fact, no nominations at all for this biopic about the controversial FBI director.
“Cars 2” is the first Disney/Pixar feature film not nominated in the Animated Feature category since the Academy introduced the category in 2001.
Despite the presence of song-and-dance host Billy Crystal, it appears it’s going to be a fairly quiet Oscars ceremony. Only two nominations for Best Original Song nominated: “Real in Rio” for “Rio,” and “Muppet or Man” for “The Muppet Movie.” Usually, there are five.
Despite a heavy marketing for a Best Picture nomination, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2” only came away with three technical nominations (Art Direction, Makeup, Visual Effects).
Though it tops the list with the most nominations—11—“Hugo” received not a single acting nomination.
If “The Artist” wins Best Picture, it will be the first time since 1927’s “Wings” that a silent film has won the Academy Award in that category.
Michel Hazanavicius is nominated not only in the directing category for “The Artist,” he also is nominated for Original Screenplay and Film Editing.
Madonna’s “W.E.” received a nomination for her drama “W.E.,” in the Best Costume category, but the Academy exhibited no love for The Material’s Girl’s “Masterpiece” song, which recently won a Golden Globe award.
Bridget O’Connor, co-writer of the adapted screenplay of “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” is the only deceased nominee this year. She passed away in September 2010.