'American Hustle,' 'Gravity' Lead Oscar Nominations
LOS ANGELES —
A comedy about political corruption, a space drama and a tale of 19th-century slavery top the nominations for Hollywood’s Academy Awards, or Oscars, announced Thursday in Los Angeles.
American Hustle, a corruption tale set in the 1970s, earned 10 Oscar nominations, including nods for leading actress Amy Adams, supporting actress Jennifer Lawrence, supporting actor Bradley Cooper, and actor Christian Bale, who plays a small-time confidence man.The film's director, David O. Russell, earned an Oscar nomination for best director.
Space saga Gravity also earned 10 nominations. The film from Mexican director Alfonso Cuaron stars George Clooney and Sandra Bullock, and tells the story of a disaster in space. Bullock earned an Oscar nomination for her starring role in the film.
12 Years a Slave earned nine Oscar nods. Based on a true story, the film recounts the life of Solomon Northrup, a free black man who was abducted and sold into slavery in the years before the American civil war. The film earned nominations for British director Steve McQueen, supporting actor Michael Fassbender and supporting actress Lupita Nyong’o. It brought a best actor nod for British actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.
From left, Chris Hemsworth and President of the Academy Cheryl Boone Isaacs announce the Academy Awards nominations at the 86th Academy Awards nomination ceremony, Jan. 16, 2013 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Captain Phillips, based on the true story of Somali pirates who attack an American cargo ship, earned six nominations, including one for Somali-born supporting actor Barkhad Abdi. Absent from the list of nominees was the film’s star, Tom Hanks.
VOA's Pam Dockins spoke with Barkhad Abdi:
Dallas Buyers Club, also based on a true story, tells the story of Texas man with AIDS who becomes an unlikely activist. The film’s six nominations include one for lead actor Matthew McConaughey, and another for supporting actor Jared Leto, who plays a transsexual.
Nebraska, the story of a father-son relationship, also had six Oscar nods, including for lead actor Bruce Dern, supporting actress June Squibb, as well as director Alexander Payne.
Other nominees include Meryl Streep for her starring role as the matriarch of a dysfunctional family in August: Osage County, Judi Dench for Philomena, and Cate Blanchett for her starring role in Woody Allen’s tragic comedy Blue Jasmine.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill earned acting nominations for Martin Scorsese’s corruption tale The Wolf of Wall Street.
Nine films will compete this year for best picture, and the Oscars will be presented March 2 in Hollywood.
