Oscar Nominations 2012 BBC News Special

Hello and welcome to this BBC News Special. In the next few minutes

we'll be live in Hollywood, to hear the Oscar nominations for 2012.

With me for the next half an hour, our film critic, Jason Solomons. A

film critic of the of server and much more. -- the Observer. He'll

be giving us his views on what should and shouldn't be making it

onto the list. Well let's take you live to Los Angeles where it's only

5.30am. This is the scene at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre, where in

the next few minutes we'll be hearing those all important

nominations. Also awake very early is our correspondent in Los Angeles,

Peter Bowes. Peter what can we expect? We will find out how many

films are nominated in the best picture category? Yes will it be

the artist or The Descendants, or another film that gets the most

nominations under the category for best picture. There will be a

minimum of five Norman -- nominees, and the maximum of 10. It will be

up to the academy to decide which movies are worthy of the accolade.

Let's talk to Jason. Building up to another exciting year and who would

have thought a black and white film with no speaking would be storming

ahead. That seems to be the rumour- mill? We are back to 1927 were a

silent movie could get nominated, the last one to do so was wings. We

don't know how many films will be nominated, is extraordinary. It

used to be fired, then it was 10, they are tinkering with this. One

thing we can be certain about is the artist will feature. I think it

is the favourite and one of the most delightful Best Picture

nominees we have had in years. It goes back to the old Hollywood. It

is about all Hollywood, but also about a man and a woman crossing

time. He is a man stuck in the silence era, and the woman in the

talking era. The creator of the film, Jean Dujardin, have never

heard have him. It was picked out by the Cannes Film Festival. Yes,

this is a slow process, it is not an instant hit but I think people

will be charmed when they see it. Another conventional choice,

possibly with The Descendants? Everybody talking about a cracking

performance by George Clooney. Alexander Payne has been nominated

before for his film, sideways. He does these great crisis movies.

George Clooney trying to become the man he should be because his wife

is in a coma. He is not very good at it. Hollywood loves George

Clooney and they have a nominated him a few times and I think he will

be nominated today and go on to win for his performance in The

Descendants, which is out in the UK. Best actress category. Does anyone

need to turn up this year unless their name is Meryl Streep? If you

are turning up, you will be just turning up for the party. No one

will beat Meryl Streep in her performance as Margaret Thatcher.

In America, she is not quite as popular as perhaps you would be

here. Nevertheless, anyone can see it is a storming performance. She

plays her old, she plays her young and in her mid- life pomp. It blows

everything I have seen on the screen away. She thoroughly

deserves the best actress recognition. We might see some

British interest in till the Swinton? She has won supporting

actress in Michael Clayton, with George Clooney. She is brilliant as

among coming to terms with her child turning bad. I would like to

see her nominated because she is brilliant on the red carpet. She is

a real artist, it is about her look and legality. The British element,

you always like to support the Brits on Oscar night. I am not so

sure how successful we will be this year. The British film in the back

does here is Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, a very stylish film. I love it.

Gary Goldman is fantastic. A role played by Alec is -- Alec Guinness.

A real ensemble cast. Will the Americans take to it? It is about

the Cold War, a frostiness at the heart of British society. It is not

a warm film like the artist. It has an Oscar favourite in there, Colin

Firth, the current holder of the best actor accolade. He plays an

important part. The Academy Award recognise that and said we like

Colin Firth, let's go should this film in. I hope it is not left in

the cold. And the film everyone is going to see, which is warhorse?

Steven Spielberg, always an Academy favourite. Is this his best film? I

am not so sure. Let's cross to Los Angeles now and our correspondent

Peter Bowes. Who is announcing the nominations? Academy President, Tom

Sherak and actress, Jennifer Lawrence, are taking to the stage

to announce the nominations. They will read through the list of the

nominees in the top 10 categories. The rest of the nominees will be

announced by the Academy's online. Here they come any second. The

great and the good of Hollywood Hello everybody. Good morning.

Welcome to the Academy of motion picture, arts and sciences. I am

President of the Academy. This morning we would share the news we

have all been waiting for. I am happy to be joined by one of last

year's Best actress nominees, Jennifer Laurence.

APPLAUSE. Good morning. The 2011 nominees for

best performance by an actress in a supporting role are: Jessica

Chastelain. Mellissa McCarthy in bridesmaid. Janan Mathiot. Jennifer.

For best performance by an actor in a supporting role, the nominees

are: Kenneth Branagh in my week with Marilyn. Jonah Hill. Nick

Knowles in warrior. Christopher Plummer in beginners. And Max von

see down. For best performance by an actress in a leading role, the

nominees are: Glenn Close. Viola Davies. The goal with the dragon

tattooed. Meryl Streep. And Michelle Williams in my week with

Marilyn. The nominees for best performance by an actor in a

leading role are: Damian bash here. George Clooney. Jean Dujardin. Gary

Goldman. Brad Pitt. For best achievement in directing

the artist. Alexander Payne for The Descendants. Martin Scorsese. Woody

Allen. And Terence Malik. For best original screenplay, the nominees

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

For best foreign language film we For best animated feature film, the

Finally I am pleased to announce the films selected as Best Picture

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

Please join us of 26th February when we celebrate the magic of the

Up the artist not surprisingly nominated, we don't find out

immediately before Quito tolls we always like to know. It takes a few

minutes to calculate. The big announcement in LA but they are not

announcing all of them. By the time we come off air at the top of the

hour we will know more. The artist coming through in best picture

categories like Best actor and I think best supporting actress?

only actors in the artist. They know Meryl Streep is so dominant,

they have put her in as a supporting actress. It seems

bizarre, but very pleased. It has been nominated for director and

screenplay. I wouldn't be surprised if there was nominated for sound as

well. I think it is the dominant film. We always get one that their

murders, we always get one against the other, I wonder what will be up

against it. I don't know, it looks like it will be The Descendants

with George Clooney. And the Director nomination for Alexander

Payne. But the artist will sweep all before us, I think. I am

delighted with the acting categories. Kenneth Branagh has

been sq -- nominate for his turn as Laurence Olivier. And Gary Oldman

and. We'll talk about it more about that. Let's see little clip of the

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 55 seconds

Plenty more of that and plenty more of the dog. Sadly, not nominated. A

little biased but it is gorgeous. If we talk about the best actor

category, are we seeing a battle between George Clooney and Brad

Pitt which seems a little unimaginative, doesn't it? Two big

stars. People have got to watch this Oscar show. They are going to

watch, the French silent film winning everything, so they really

need to get people to watch it. How are you going to do that? Get it

George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Thankfully they are both terrific.

I love both of them in, George Clooney in The Descendants, and

also in that film opposite when Gosling. I think it is his year as

for his role in The Descendants. Brad Pitt, its money Bull, a

baseball movie. Very American. -- Moneyball. He is great. It is about

his relationship with his daughter, this failed athlete turned manager,

how he gets his team going using statistics and tricks rather than

using money. I thought it was a terrific film. But I am an Arsenal

fan and it is all about taking on the might of the dollar. We berthed

-- we both loved Tinker Tailor Solider Spy, have fantastic in a

best actor category, seeing Gary Oldman. He has talked himself about

how this film has been a resurgence of his career. A different career.

He has made a career of playing villains, outsiders, it never been

Oscar-nominated. Does these great big performances. Periods, finally

doing a downbeat performance -- here he is. He is terrific. He has

finally got his Oscar nomination, he has been around for years. He is

royalty of acting. Wonderful to see him nominated alongside those

people. Can he be there? I do not know. There is a lot of love for

George Clooney. But it is a terrific piece of acting. The

restraint he put in there, that takes the key for the full.

Delighted to see it filled -- nominated for adapted screenplay as

well. I'm really pleased it has not been shut out. Not nominated for

best picture but delighted for Gary Oldman. He will get his big night

as well. It puts him up there with the great actors. Exciting times.

Best actress, another quick word, I hardly dare mention Meryl Streep's

name again but she is there up against Michelle Williams. You have

got to feel sorry for Michelle Williams. She hasn't even lost yet.

I think Meryl Streep nails Margaret Thatcher, I did think Michelle

Williams nails Marilyn Monroe. I think it is an impossible task but

Meryl Streep gives a real human person and Michelle Williams is

sort of an impression. We have got Glenn Close in there, don't forget,

I have not seen a film but she has nursed this project, played it 30

years ago and wanted to make it into a film. And then the young

have surprised in a The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Rooney Mara. She

will be delighted to be there. And then viola Davies, in a film I

don't like a tall, The Help, but her performance is brilliant.

Streep has been very dignified about the fact American was allowed

to play Margaret Thatcher and she does it brilliantly -- a fact an

American. The Right Honourable Gentleman knows very well that we

have no choice but to close the school. Because... Disgrace!

Because his union paymasters have called a strike deliberately to

creep around the corner. Teachers cannot teach when there is no

heating. No lighting in their classrooms, and I ask the Right

Honourable gentleman whose fault is that? Methinks the Right Honourable

Lady does screech too much. If she wants us to take her seriously she

If he could attend more closely to what I'm saying, rather than how I

am saying it, he may receive a valuable education in spite of

himself. Meryl Streep. 12th nomination, I forget already.

hasn't one that many. A long time since seat -- she actually won best

actress. She doesn't win that often. She will this time. A thought about

rather different films, a common complaint over the years anything a

bit fluffier, may for Jordan, comedies, don't get taken seriously.

-- made for children. Having waffles and the best picture is one

way to try to deal with it. Interesting, bridesmaid has done

relatively well. -- Bridesmaids. You also have to have popular films.

No blockbusters in there. We are seeing films that are highbrow and

then the Bob Alliss. One that has broken through his cat litter

She is nominated and a couple of other nods. Screenplay. Great to

see a comedy in there. Woody Allen's Midnight In Paris is in

there, a gentle comedy. It does need brightening up. The Artist is

lovely and a level that most of the time they have a stodgy, series

films but not really properly series. Hollywood serious. --

serious films. Felipe Vivancos has changed that and it makes the high

jump. -- The Artist. A British entry with Kenneth Branagh.

Christopher Plummer as well. Just fantastic in a lovely film.

Beginners, a quirky film that really delightful. A striking

performance and their one whisper it, he is establishment, has been

around for a while -- and dare one whisper. He comes to terms with his

sexuality in his eighties discovering he is gay and worked it

out with the help of Ewan McGregor. A lovely performance. And he was in

the sound of music. Ewan McGregor plays his son, that is the scene

there. A really unusual for them. Will he get it? He is very popular,

has been around a long time. Part of that generation of actors from

Richard Harris and all that. He has been overlooked in that great

barnstorming roles. McNulty, a grizzled, performance in warrior. -

- Nick Nolte. Have you have got Kenneth Branagh, doing Laurence

Olivier. It is a year for impressions. Kenneth Branagh is

more than that, it is about cinema, what he does and it is good between

theatre and cinema. Laurence Olivier being a bit snobbish about

this new cinema thing. A brief thought about Gabor Gyepes, look at

the British box office, it is storming through -- War Horse.

thought it would be one of the front runners but we need a popular

film. I liked it, I don't love it. It has got a horse in it and people

love animal films. They love the sweeping romance. It is an anti-war

movie. Spielberg is so popular it is great to see him, I am surprised

Tintin didn't get nominated. Don't forget, Spielberg, Scorsese, Woody

Allen, the old school are returning to the top of the tree.

Let's remind people what is in the running for best picture. Quite a

There are more than five this year. One of the ways they have tried to

enlarge the category. We are missing if you there. The Help,

Tree of Life, Hugo. Workstreams, a film I haven't seen but directed by

the man who made Billy Elliott. -- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

He has only ever made five films and they have all been nominated

for best picture. He is called in to the Oscars. Let's see if we can