Oscar Nominations Announced

Zoomer | January 25th, 2011


By Charlotte Bumstead

Nominees for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards were announced from Hollywood earlier this morning, and the Zoomers are leading the way.  The wise and experienced dominate the category for best director, with nods given to David Fincher (age 48) for The Social Network, Joel (56) and Ethan (53) Coen for True Grit and David O. Russell (52) for The Fighter. Darren Aronofsky is also nominated for Black Swan.

Hollywood veteran Jeff Bridges (61), who won the best actor trophy last year for Crazy Love, is back again this year for his role in True Grit. He is joined by Colin Firth (50), who hopes to continue on his streak launched at the Golden Globes for his starring role in The King’s Speech. These two Zoomers battle against youngsters James Franco (127 Hours), Jesse Eisenburg (The Social Network) and Javier Bardem (Biutiful).

Annette Bening (age 52) receives a nod of recognition for her moving performance as a lesbian mother faced with losing her family in The Kids Are All Right. Her competition for best actress includes Nicole Kidman (43) for her role as a grieving mother in The Rabbit Hole, as well as Natalie Portman in Black Swan, Michelle Williams in Blue Valentine and Jennifer Lawrence in Winter’s Bone.

Nominated for their supporting roles are Zoomer female actors Melissa Leo (50) in The Fighter and Jacki Weaver (63) in Animal Kingdom. Male supporting actors to receive nods include John Hawkes (51) in Winter’s Bone and Geoffrey Rush (59) in The King’s Speech.

Of course, deserved acknowledgment is given to the much commended British monarchy drama about a stuttering King George VI, as The King’s Speech holds down the front to the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture. However, rivals for the chief category bring forth serious competition. Also up for the award are the following:

  • Facebook legend The Social Network
  • Ballet thriller Black Swan
  • Boxing drama The Fighter
  • Sci-fi blockbuster Inception
  • Contemporary family drama The Kids Are All Right
  • True-life survival tale 127 Hours
  • Animated favourite Toy Story 3
  • Revamped western True Grit
  • Ozarks crime thriller Winter’s Bone

The Canadian favourite this year is Denis Villeneuve’s fiery thriller Incendies, with hopeful support in its nomination for best foreign-language film. Unfortunately, after Paul Giamatti’s much appreciated speech at the Golden Globes for his Barney’s Version win, the production finds no love from the Oscars (besides a nod for makeup).

The Academy Awards show will be hosted by Franco and Anne Hathaway on Feb. 27 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. For a full list of nominees, click here.