#OSCARS: “LINCOLN” EARNS A STUNNING 12 NOMINATIONS

Hollywood didn’t sleep much last night as the 85th annual Academy Award Nominations were announced at 5:30 AM Pacific Time.  This year, Emma Stone and Funnyman Seth McFarlane were called-upon for announcing duties and although there were a few surprise Omissions, few will dispute that this year’s Nominees are deserving.  MacFarlane himself even received a Nomination for his Song, Everybody Needs a Friend from Ted.

This year’s Best Picture Nominees are: Amour, Argo, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty and lastly, Lincoln which leads the way with twelve Nominations. Many are concerned that snubs in the Directing Category might be predictive of a voting result here.

Directing Nominees include: Michael Haneke (Amour), Benh Zeitlin (Beasts of the Southern Wild), Ang Lee (Life of Pi), David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook) and Steven Spielberg (Lincoln).  Surprise Omissions are first-ever Female Winner in the Category, Kathryn Bigelow (Zero Dark Thirty) and Ben Affleck who despite a v. heavy promotional Campaign, still got snubbed for Argo. Missing also is Quentin Tarantino for Django Unchained.

Actor in a Leading Role is hotly-contended with Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables) up against current Favourite Daniel Day-Lewis  (Lincoln), Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings Playbook), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master) and Denzel Washington (Flight). Many are surprised that John Hawkes was snubbed here while his The Sessions Co-Star Helen Hunt was recognized for her work.

Actress in a Leading Role boasts two records – youngest and oldest Actress ever to be nominated with Quvenzhané Wallis and Emmanuelle Riva holding those distinctions respectively.  Otherwise, Naomi Watts (The Impossible) is up against Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook) and Favourite, Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) – these three Actresses each receiving their second-ever Nominations.

Actor in a Supporting Role for the first-time ever includes all previous Academy Award Winners: Christoph Waltz (Django Unchained), Robert DeNiro (Silver Linings Playbook), Philip Seymour Hoffman (The Master), Tommy Lee-Jones (Lincoln) and Alan Arkin (Argo).  Some are surprised that Leonardo Dicaprio got snubbed for his work in Django Unchained, in perhaps the most evenly-matched Category at this year’s Awards.

Actress in a Supporting Role recognizes some fine work this year, but through and through Anne Hathaway is likely to win it all for her bone-chilling work as Fantine in Les Misérables.  Also nominated are Amy Adams (The Master), Helen Hunt (The Sessions), Sally Field (Lincoln) and Jackie Weaver (Silver Linings Playbook).  Each of these Actresses have either been nominated for or have won at least one Academy Award prior.

As an added surprise, perhaps we can expect to see Adele performing Original Song Nominee Skyfall?

For a complete list of Nominees, click here.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

#BOXOFFICE: “TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 3D” STILL DEADLY IN REMAKE FORM

Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3D murders the competition this weekend at the Box Office, kicking-off with a bang on Friday night with $10.2 million. Although slipping noticeably throughout the weekend, the Horror Remake starring Alexandra Daddario and Trey Songz still lands on-top with $23 million for Lionsgate Films/VVS Films, from 2.654 theatres across North America. Rising Star Daddario recently was in Toronto and we caught-up with her. Click here for more.

After menacing in second last weekend Django Unchained still is going strong in its third week with $20.1 million for The Weinstein Co./Alliance Films, keeping The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey behind in third with $17.5 million for Warner Bros., after a successful three weeks in-a-row at number one.

Les Misérables slips to fourth this weekend with $16.1 million, for Universal Pictures, at once surpassing the $100 mark domestically.

Parental Guidance meanwhile still continues to hang-on top the Top Five after a valiant fight, earning $10.1 million this weekend, giving Moviegoers some much-needed funny fare aside from some of the heavier-hearted options out right now.

Judd Apatow‘s This is 40 meanwhile continues to perform steadily, landing in seventh with $8.6 million, closing-in on the $60 million mark, keeping Best Picture Contender Lincoln at bay with $5.2 million in eighth.

Despite a relatively quiet promotional campaign, Gus Van Sant‘s latest Promised Land enters quietly in tenth with $4.6  million. Its Script was penned by its Stars, Matt Damon and John Krasinski.

Bubbling under, The Impossible, based on true story of a Family which survived 2004‘s devastating Tsunami while on vacation in Thailand, debuts in ninth spot with $2.76 million from 572 theatres and is set to expand next week to bigger numbers.  Naomi Watts is expected to gain an Oscar nomination Thursday for her powerful performance as Maria Belon in the Film from Focus Features/eOne Films.

Best Picture Frontrunner Zero Dark Thirty, which stars the currently-on-Broadway Jessica Chastain is seeing an enormous amount of buzz for in the Oscars Race, earning an impressive $2.75 in just 60 theatres! The Drama about the hunt for Osama bin Laden, finally sees a wide release next Friday.