Oscar Nominee Odds, Ends, Facts And Figures

A collection of facts, figures and trivia about this year's Academy Award nominees:

CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," with 13 Oscar nominations, has tied with eight other films to become the second-most-nominated movie in Academy Award history. First place is still held by "Titanic" (1997) and "All About Eve" (1950), with 14 nominations each.

THE STREEP STREAK: Meryl Streep continues to be Oscar's most nominated performer, with this year's nod for "Doubt" bringing her total to 15. That's three ahead of Katharine Hepburn and Jack Nicholson, who have 12 each. But Hepburn, who died in 2003, won four Oscars and Nicholson has won three, while Streep has two.

A NEW RECORD HOLDER: Kate Winslet is now the youngest person to garner six Oscar nominations. Winslet received her sixth nomination, for "The Reader," at 33, one year younger than Bette Davis was when she got her sixth in 1942 for "Now, Voyager."

REPEAT PERFORMER; Philip Seymour Hoffman is the only repeat Oscar nominee from last year. Hoffman, nominated Thursday for supporting actor for "Doubt," was nominated for supporting actor last year for "Charlie Wilson's War." He won the lead actor Oscar for 2005's "Capote."

POSTHUMOUS NOMINEES: With his supporting actor nomination for "The Dark Knight," Heath Ledger joins a handful of Hollywood notables to be so honored after their deaths. Others include James Dean ("East of Eden," 1955, and "Giant," 1956), Spencer Tracy ("Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," 1967), Peter Finch ("Network," 1976), Ralph Richardson ("Greystroke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes," 1984) and Massimo Troisi ("The Postman," 1995). Only Finch has gone on to win.

UNOFFICIAL NOMINEE: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also lists Jeanne Eagles as an "unofficial" nominee for best actress for 1929's "The Letter," the year she died. Although only winners were announced that year, the Academy says records indicate Eagles was "under consideration" for an award.

CHANNELING A PRESIDENT: Frank Langella, nominated for "Frost/Nixon," becomes the second actor nominated for a best actor Oscar for portraying former President Richard Nixon. Anthony Hopkins was the first, for 1995's "Nixon."

BEEN THERE BEFORE: Five acting nominees in this year's Oscar competition are previous winners: Sean Penn, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Meryl Streep and Marisa Tomei.

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Source: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Comments

[Karen Yi]

11:01 AM on 02/13/2009

I think this year's best picture nominees are depoliticized to a fault. Even Slumdog Millionaire ignores the historical context of India's complex development albeit mentioning the Taj Mahal.

http://www.indypendent.org/2009/02/06/curious-case/
"OSCAR NOMINATIONS AND A CURIOUS CASE OF POLITICS" makes this point. What happened to this year's nominees?

[Steamboater]

04:56 PM on 01/23/2009

There was also a tie in the win for Best Actress with Barbara Streisand tying with Kate Hepburn.

[Steamboater]

04:52 PM on 01/23/2009

Although "All About Eve" has first place in Oscar nominations, its telling that Bette Davis did not win for Best Actress, and that tells me Pitt might lose and Sean Penn will win for "Milk".

[bubbuh]

12:42 PM on 01/23/2009

The best in Oscar facts:
http://www.filmsite.org/oscars.html

The Oscars have always been the most biased film awards. Even after the destruction studio system, the nominations and awards have been handed out more for what went on outside the theater than what ended up on the screen.

[Bloodwart]

01:06 AM on 01/23/2009

What a shame it is that Cate Blanchett was not nominated for "Benjamin Button". It's an insult.

[slobone]

11:40 PM on 01/22/2009

James Dean and Sal Mineo were both nominated in 1955...

[craigith]

12:24 AM on 01/23/2009

Between this fact and the one for Brokeback Mountain many of my fellow homosexuals have threatened to take away my rainbow-card for completely forgetting them!

Thank you, and everyone else, so much!

[craigith]

05:49 PM on 01/22/2009

apologies, I meant to say "...is THIS the first time..."

[craigith]

05:47 PM on 01/22/2009

With both Angelina and Brad being nominated is the first time a couple has been nominated for Oscars, acting or otherwise, in the same year?
Probably not, but none are popping into my head.

[anastasiabeaverhousen]

06:01 PM on 01/22/2009

Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were both nominated in 1967 (for best actor/actress) for "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". She won, he didn't.

[JWeaver]

07:28 PM on 01/22/2009

Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams (Brokeback Mountain)