RED CARPETWho's in the hunt for an Oscar?
Roll over photos for a quick look at the 84th Academy Award nominees.
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The Artist:
A black-and-white silent movie that manages the impossible: It strikes an exact balance between the traditions of the past and the demands of the present while creating the most modern kind of witty and entertaining fun. -- Kenneth Turan
The Artist -
The Descendants:
George Clooney has a solid cast around him, but this is his show and he is hands-down terrific as a harried father and wary husband trying to make up for lost time. Who would have thought that one of the last true Hollywood stars would find himself in this ordinary man, who deals in very ordinary ways with life in all of its wonderful, wounded whimsy? -- Betsy Sharkey
The Descendants -
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close:
Starring Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock and Thomas Horn, the film is a handsomely polished, thoughtfully wrapped Hollywood production about 9/11 that seems to have forever redefined words such as "unthinkable," "unforgivable," "catastrophic." Director Stephen Daldry has taken great care in looking at it through the eyes of a precocious New York City boy in a movie filled with sentiment and substance. -- Betsy Sharkey
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close -
The Help:
'The Help' is a delicious peppery stew of home-cooked, 1960s Southern-style racism that serves up a soulful dish of what ails us and what heals us. Laughter proves to be the secret ingredient, turning what should be a feel-bad movie about those troubled times into a heart-warming surprise. The movie is richly flavored by the work of a sprawling cast that puts the exceptional Viola Davis and Emma Stone at the film's impassioned center. -- Betsy Sharkey
The Help -
Hugo:
Martin Scorsese making a film from a children's book is as improbable as, well, Martin Scorsese making a film from a children's book. But with its beautiful panoramic shots of 1930s Paris, the director's visually thrilling 'Hugo' has real moments of 3-D magic. Sadly, they aren't quite enough to make this adaptation of Brian Selznick's celebrated novel, 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret,' a wholly satisfying experience. -- Kenneth Turan
Hugo -
Midnight in Paris:
Simple and fable-like, with a definite 'when you wish upon a star' quality and bolstered by appealing performers like Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams and Marion Cotillard, this is Woody Allen's warmest, mellowest and out-and-out funniest venture in far too long. -- Kenneth Turan
Midnight in Paris -
Moneyball:
Starring Brad Pitt in top movie star form as iconoclastic Oakland Athletics General Manager Billy Beane, this adaptation of the Michael Lewis bestseller about a revolution in baseball is seriously impressive and a major surprise. -- Kenneth Turan
Moneyball -
Tree of Life:
What Terrence Malick's complex, extraordinarily ambitious and Brad Pitt-starring feature unintentionally does is make you question what you want out of cinema. Are you looking for philosophizing, fluid filmmaking and once-in-a-lifetime images? Or is satisfying drama and deep emotional connection what draws you in? In theory you could have both, but that is not the case here. -- Kenneth Turan
Tree of Life -
War Horse:
Steven Spielberg's epic family drama about the enduring connection between a boy and his horse and the Great War that tears them apart has the sweep of a classic John Ford movie, the sentiment of Frank Capra and a spirited steed named Joey who will steal your heart. The film itself is more difficult to love. If only Spielberg had trusted that we would be able to read between the lines. -- Betsy Sharkey
War Horse
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Woody Allen:
For his romantic roundelay set in the City of Light, the 76-year-old filmmaker picks up his seventh Academy Award nomination in the director category; Allen is also Oscar-nominated for his original screenplay. He won the director prize 34 years ago for 'Annie Hall.' -- Susan King
Woody AllenMidnight in Paris -
Michel Hazanavicius:
The 44-year-old French filmmaker earns a director nomination for his black-and-white silent movie; Hazanavicius is also Oscar-nominated for his original screenplay. The last director to receive a director Oscar for a silent film was Frank Lloyd for 'The Divine Lady' at the 1928-29 ceremony. -- Susan King
Michel HazanaviciusThe Artist -
Terrence Malick:
The iconoclastic filmmaker, 68, earns his second director nod for his existential drama about a Texas family. Malick is also Oscar-nominated for his original screenplay. He previously was nominated in the category for 1998's 'The Thin Red Line,' for which he also earned an adapted screenplay nomination. -- Susan King
Terrence MalickThe Tree of Life -
Alexander Payne:
The 50-year-old writer-director earns his second director Oscar nomination for the family drama set in Hawaii. He was previously nominated in this category for 2004's 'Sideways,' for which he won the Oscar for adapted screenplay. -- Susan King
Alexander PayneThe Descendants -
Martin Scorsese:
One of the most influential directors of the past 40 years, Scorsese collects his seventh nomination for his direction of the Paris-set valentine to cinema. Scorsese, 69, earned his first director Oscar nomination for 1980's 'Raging Bull' and won the award five years ago for his gangster film, 'The Departed.' -- Susan King
Martin ScorseseHugo
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Glenn Close:
Glenn Close receives her sixth Oscar nomination for her title role portraying a woman who has dressed as a man for 30 years to survive in 19th century Ireland. The 64-year-old Close received her first Oscar nomination for supporting actress for her film debut 30 years ago in 'The World According to Garp.' -- Susan King
Glenn CloseAlbert Nobbs -
Viola Davis:
The 46-year-old Davis earns her first lead actress Academy Award nomination for her role as Southern domestic Aibileen Clark in the hit adaptation of Kathryn Stockett's novel set in the 1960s. If she wins, Davis will be only the second African American actress to win an Oscar in this category. Halle Berry was the first for 2001's 'Monster's Ball.' -- Susan King
Viola DavisThe Help -
Rooney Mara:
As the enigmatic, tattooed Lisbeth Salander, the 26-year-old Mara earns her first lead actress Oscar nomination in the thriller based on the bestselling novel by the late Swedish author Stieg Larsson. Mara appeared in the 2010 best picture nominee 'The Social Network.' -- Susan King
Rooney MaraThe Girl With the Dragon Tattoo -
Meryl Streep:
Fresh off a Golden Globe win for lead actress in a dramatic movie, the 62-year-old performer receives her record-breaking 17th Oscar nomination for her turn as England's former conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Streep won her only lead actress Academy Award for 1982's 'Sophie's Choice.' -- Susan King
Meryl StreepThe Iron Lady -
Michelle Williams:
Marilyn Monroe never received an Oscar nomination, but the 31-year-old Williams is picking up her second consecutive lead actress Oscar nomination for her portrait of the troubled sex symbol. Williams earned a lead actress nomination for 2010's 'Blue Valentine' and a supporting actress nod for 2005's 'Brokeback Mountain.' -- Susan King
Michelle WilliamsMy Week With Marilyn
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Demián Bichir:
The 48-year-old actor was a surprise lead actor nominee for his role as Carlos Galdino, an East L.A gardner, in the low-budget drama directed by Chris Weitz. Bichir, who played Fidel Castro in Steven Soderberg's 2008 "Che" and Estaban Reyes on the Showtime series "Weeds," was born in Mexico City. -- Susan King
Demián BichirA Better Life -
George Clooney:
The 50-year-old actor-writer-director-producer earns his third lead actor nomination for his role as Matt King, a middle-aged father trying to keep his family together. Clooney was nominated in the lead actor category two years ago for 'Up in the Air' and four years ago for 'Michael Clayton.' He won the supporting actor Oscar for 2005's 'Syriana.' -- Susan King
George ClooneyThe Descendants -
Jean Dujardin:
The 39-year-old Parisian is a first-time Oscar nominee for lead actor as George Valentin, a silent screen superstar whose career falls apart with the advent of the talkies. He won the Golden Globe for lead actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical. -- Susan King
Jean DujardinThe Artist -
Gary Oldman:
The veteran British actor, 53, who, depending on your age, may best be known as either Sid Vicious in 1986's 'Sid and Nancy' or Sirius Black in the 'Harry Potter' franchise, earns his first Oscar nomination as ace British spy George Smiley in the adaptation of John Le Carre's bestselling novel. -- Susan King
Gary OldmanTinker Tailor Soldier Spy -
Brad Pitt:
As the Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane, the father of six earns his second Oscar nomination for lead actor in the acclaimed drama. The 48-year-old received his first lead actor nomination three years ago for 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' and picked up a supporting nod for 1995's 'Twelve Monkeys.' -- Susan King
Brad PittMoneyball
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Bérénice Bejo:
The Argentina-born Bejo, 35, garners a nomination for her performance as the exuberant song and dance gal Peppy Miller in the black-and-white tribute to the dawn of Hollywood's Golden Age. -- Susan King
Bérénice BejoThe Artist -
Jessica Chastain:
The golden girl of 2011, Chastain appeared not only in 'The Help' but also in 'The Debt,' 'The Tree of Life,' 'Texas Killing Fields,' 'Take Shelter' and 'Coriolanus.' She picks up her first Oscar nomination for her role as Celia Foote, a garish Southern woman in the civil rights era drama. Chastain, 30, has won several awards for her work on screen last year. -- Susan King
Jessica ChastainThe Help -
Melissa McCarthy:
The 41-year-old farmer's daughter from Illinois who began her career as a stand-up comedian receives her first nomination for her comedic turn as the outrageous man-crazy Megan in the R-rated box office sensation. The nomination caps a stellar year for McCarthy, who won the Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series for CBS' 'Mike & Molly.' -- Susan King
Melissa McCarthyBridesmaids -
Janet McTeer:
Twelve years after earning a lead actress nomination for 'Tumbleweeds,' the 50-year-old British actress returns to the Academy Award circle with a supporting nomination for her turn as Hubert Page, a lesbian disguising herself as a man in 19th century Ireland in the Glenn Close-led period drama. -- Susan King
Janet McTeerAlbert Nobbs -
Octavia Spencer:
The 39-year-old character actress garners her first nomination for her scene-stealing turn as the sassy Southern domestic Minny Jackson in the box office hit set in the South in the early '60s. Spencer already has won the Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Movie Award for her performance, as well as the National Board of Review honor as a member of the ensemble of the film. -- Susan King
Octavia SpencerThe Help
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Kenneth Branagh:
Ever since he earned a lead actor and director Oscar nomination for his 1989 Shakespearean epic 'Henry V,' the 51-year-old Branagh has been compared to Laurence Olivier, because the late actor-director received accolades for his version of the play. And now Branagh earns his first supporting actor Oscar nomination actually playing Olivier in the comedy-drama about the troubled production of the Marilyn Monroe film 'The Prince and the Showgirl. -- Susan King
Kenneth BranaghMy Week With Marilyn -
Max von Sydow:
The veteran Swedish actor, who collaborated with Ingmar Bergman on classic dramas such as 'The Seventh Seal,' earned his second Oscar nomination -- this one in the supporting actor category -- as the Renter, an unnamed man who doesn't speak but offers support to the young male lead. Von Sydow, 82, was nominated for a lead actor Academy Award 23 years ago for 'Pelle the Conqueror.' -- Susan King
Max von SydowExtremely Loud & Incredibly Close -
Jonah Hill:
Primarily known for his R-rated comedies such as 'Knocked Up' and 'Superbad,' the 28-year-old Hill proved he could hold his own opposite Brad Pitt in the baseball-themed drama, earning a supporting actor Oscar nomination as Peter Brand, the numbers-savvy assistant general manager of the Oakland A's. -- Susan King
Jonah HillMoneyball -
Nick Nolte:
As Paddy Conlon, an alcoholic ex-pugilist, the raspy-voiced 70-year-old actor earned a supporting actor Oscar nomination. Nolte was previously in the Oscar circle for lead actor for 1991's 'The Prince of Tides' and 1998's 'Affliction.' -- Susan King
Nick NolteWarrior -
Christopher Plummer:
The 82-year-old Canadian-born Plummer, who starred as Capt. Von Trapp in the 1965 best picture winner 'The Sound of Music,' earned his second supporting actor Oscar nomination, for his turn as Hal Fields, a widower dying of cancer who comes out to his adult son late in life. Plummer received his first Oscar nomination in this same category two years ago for playing Leo Tolstoy in 'The Last Station.' -- Susan King
Christopher PlummerBeginners
