Movies about yesterday were the big winner in the nominations for the Academy Awards, which will be handed out next month.
On Tuesday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the nominees for its Oscar awards, and most of the nominees, especially in the Best Picture category, are from movies set in the past.
Martin Scorcese’s “Hugo,” set in 1930s Paris, “The Artist,” a mostly silent film that the New York Times calls a “tribute to old Hollywood,” and “Midnight in Paris,” set in the 1920s, all pulled in a number of nods, with Hugo leading the way with 11. The Help, set in the post-World War II South, also picked up a nomination for Best Picture.
“I would say at least six are focused or set in the past,” said Boston Globe film critic Wesley Morris. “This collection of movies is saying something about how we don’t want to be here or like being here."
Here's a list of all of the nominees for some of the biggest categories. You can also download a copy of the complete list of nominees from Oscar.com.
Best Picture
The Artist: Thomas Langmann, Producer
The Descendants: Jim Burke, Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Producers
Extremely loud & Incredibly Close: Scott Rudin, Producer
The Help: Brunson Green, Chris Columbus and Michael Barnathan, Producers
Hugo: Graham King and Martin Scorsese, Producers
Midnight in Paris: Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum, Producers
Moneyball: Michael De Luca, Rachael Horovitz and Brad Pitt, Producers
The Tree of Life
War Horse: Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producer
Best Actor
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor, Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My WeeK With Marilyn
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