By Susan King and Rene Lynch
January 16, 2014, 7:57 a.m.
“American Hustle” and “Gravity” dominated the Academy Award nominations Thursday morning, earning 10 nominations apiece, while “12 Years a Slave” followed with nine nominations. All three earned nominations for best picture and best director.
The top nominees — a con-man comedy, a lost-in-space thriller and a harrowing depiction of slavery in America — have fortified their status as the front-runners for Oscar gold on March 2. All three performed well this awards season, earning critics honors as well as taking home the marquee trophies at the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
“Captain Phillips,” “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Nebraska” each earned six nominations, including best picture. “Her,” “Philomena” and “The Wolf of Wall Street” rounded out the roster of nine best picture nominees.
The 86th Academy Awards are in a position to make Oscar history. If Steve McQueen wins best director for “12 Years a Slave,” he will be the first black filmmaker to do so.
The Oscars, how I love thee but oh how desperately I need Netflix in France (supposedly finally coming this year) as I have not seen…are you ready for it? Not a single of the Best Film nominations. 🙁 Help.
Rant: I know “Saving Mr Banks” is basically a two-hour Disney infomercial, but no nomination for Emma Thompson?!
Yes! Although, as brilliant as she is in that role — half of the film had to do with her past — which I could have done without. There certainly was plenty of material about that event and her interactions at Disney, and A LOT more interest in the adult P.L. Travers (at least for me). For God’s sake they had Emma Thompson! Why perpetually cut away to a curly haired waif in the Outback??? Please do rant!