Oscar Awards 2012 Nominations announced
UK Today News: The nominations list for the upcoming 84th Academy Awards aka Oscar Awards 2012 have been announced. This year, Martin Scorsese’s family movie ‘Hugo’ has received the maximum of eleven nominations. Tom Sherak and Jennifer Lawrence made the annnouncements from Los Angeles on January 24, 2012.
Brad Pitt’s movie ‘Moneyball’ and Steven Spielberg’s movie ‘War House’ bagged six nominations each, while ‘The Decendants’ was named in five categories. Gary Oldman got his first Academy Award nomination this year for his role in ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy’.
Here is the complete list of the 2012 Oscar Awards Nominations .
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)
Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
Midnight in Paris
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Director
Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Alexander Payne (The Descendants)
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)
Woody Allen (Midnight in Paris)
Terrence Malick (The Tree of Life)
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh (My Week with Marilyn)
Jonah Hill (Moneyball)
Nick Nolte (Warrior)
Christopher Plummer (Beginners)
Max Von Sydow (Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close)
Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo (The Artist)
Jessica Chastain (The Help)
Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids)
Janet McTeer (Albert Nobbs)
Octavia Spencer (The Help)
Animated Feature
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Best Foreign Language Film
Bullhead
Footnote
In Darkness
Monsieur Lazhar
A Separation
Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants (Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash)
Hugo (John Logan)
The Ides of March (George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon)
Moneyball (Steven Zallian, Aaron Sorkin, Stan Chervin)
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Bridget O’Conner, Peter Straughan)
Original Screenplay
The Artist (Michel Hazanavicius)
Bridesmaids (Annie Mumolo, Kristin Wiig)
Margin Call (J.C. Chandor)
Midnight in Paris (Woody Allen)
A Separation (Asghar Farhadi)
Art Direction
The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
War Horse
Cinematography
The Artist
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Documentary Short
The Barber Of Birmingham: Foot Soldier Of The Civil Rights Movement
God Is The Bigger Elvis
Incident In New Baghdad
Saving Face
The Tsunami And The Cherry Blossom
Editing
The Artist
The Descendants
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Costume Design
Anonymous
The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
W.E.
Documentary Feature
Hell And Back Again
If A Tree Falls Short: A Story Of The Earth Liberation Front
Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory
Pina
Undefeated
Makeup
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
The Iron Lady
Original Score
The Adventures Of Tintin
The Artist
Hugo
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
War Horse
Original Song
‘Man or Muppet’ from The Muppets Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
‘Real in Rio’ from Rio Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett
Sound Editing
Drive
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
War Horse
Sound Mixing
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Moneyball
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
War Horse
Live Action Short
Pentecost
Raju
The Shore
Time Freak
Tuba Atlantic
Visual Effects
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Real Steel
Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
Transformers: Dark Of The Moon
Animated Short
Dimanche/Sunday
The Fantastic Flying Books Of Mr Morris Lessmore
La Luna
A Morning Stroll
Wild Life
Salman Rushdie’s video link blockage upsets author
UK Today News: The author of the controversial book ‘The Satanic Verses’, Salman Rushdie, expressed his sadness for India after his video link to the Jaipur Literary Festival was blocked. Rushdie’s address was blocked after he received death threats from Asian country.
The author stated that religious extremist groups prevented the freedom of ideas and also blamed the policitians who failed to oppose the groups for narrow political reasons. Earlier, the government of Rajasthan in India waved a green flag over the video link, but Muslim activists planned to to march to the venue of the Literary Festival in Jaipur and disrupt the event.
Many Muslims regard Rushdie’s book ‘The Satanic Verses’ as blasphemous. The video link was organized after Salman’s trip to India was cancelled due to an assassination threat.
While speaking to Indian news agency NDTV, Rushdie said that he was personally disappointed, but the overwhelming feeling of disappointment was on behalf of India. The author added that he loved the country all his life and has always praised its liberty and secularism all his life. Rushdie also said that it could be the upcoming elections in the state of Uttar Pradesh due to which the politicians are trying to secure the Muslim votes.
Heidi Klum and Seal to divorce
UK Today News: German-American model and actress Heidi Klum and English singer Seal might soon end their six year marriage. Reports say that the couple will be filing the divorce papers at the LA County Superior early next week following trouble in their marriage the past few weeks.
Reports have claimed that the actress will be citing ‘irreconcilable differences’. On January 20, 2012 the London-born singer posted a tricky message on Twitter which simply said, ‘The End’.
The 48-year-old singer proposed Heidi inside an igloo, which he built on a glacier in Canada on the year 2004. The couple now havethree children together and Seal had adopted Heidi’s first child, with whom she was pregnant when they met.
The separation news comes as a surprise for the fans of the star couple as they were known for renewing their wedding vows in lavish ceremonies. Moreover, the couple were always seen showing affection to each other and displayed a happy picture with their kids. The reason of their split is not yet revealed and it is still not known how the assets of the two will be divided. At present Seal is promoting his latest album Soul 2.
Last year Forbes said that Heidi was ranked in almost £13 million last year.
Prince William to join Middleton family on holiday
UK Today News: After the Middleton family started off their vacation at St.Lucia on January 18, 2012, the person who did not join them was Prince William. Reports say that the 29-year-old Duke of Cambridge will be joining the Middleton family, which also includes Kate’s sister Pippa and brother James.
William is due to finish his weekly shift as an RAF search and rescue pilot in Anglesey, North Wales. The holiday will be the last opportunity for the couple to spend some quality time with each other after which the William will be deployed to the Falkland Islands for six months with the RAF in the upcoming month.
After flying on a regular British Airways flight to St Lucia, the family was then transferred to the private island of Mustique. The island is the place where the Middleton’s are regular visitors at a multi-million pound villa which has its own infinity pool.
Kate is known to be close to her parents and hopes that she and Prince William will be as close as their own children. The Duchess of Cambridge said that she hopes that they will be able to have a happy family ourselves. Kate added that her family has been great over the years while they helped her at hard times.
Salman Rushdie cancels Indian visit due to fear of assassins
UK Today News: British Indian novelist and essayist Salman Rushdie announced on January 20, 2012 that he will not be attending the upcoming Literature Festival which is due to be held in Jaipur, India. On January 19, 2012, the officials warned that professional assassins would be on their way to kill Rushdie.
Salman was due to appear along with some of the leading authors like Sir David Hare, Tom Stoppard, Annie Proulx and Michael Ondaatje in spite of the threats received from some of the influential Muslim fundamentalists. The leaders of the Darul Uloom Deonband seminary earlier demanded a ban for Salman to stop him to enter the country.
The author is protested for his controversial novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ and Muslim leaders claimed that the author can never be forgiven for his blasphemous remarks on the Holy Koran of the Muslims.
While talking about his absence at the festival, the novelist wrote on Twitter, “Very sad not to be at jaipur. I was told bombay mafia don issued weapons to 2 hitmen to ‘eliminate’ me. Will do video link instead. Damn.” Rushdie also said that he received hate tweets from Muslims through the social networking site and called it as pathetic. The Muslim world was provoked with anger due to The Satanic Verses.
Google Maps launches train travel option in the UK
UK Today News: Search engine giant Google’s popular route planning tool, Google Maps, has now added the UK’s train timetables. The new feature has routes that help travellers to move around the country with ease.
Google Maps is supplying information in collaboration with thetrainline.com on 2,500 stations and 170,000 routes. The new feature also shows more than 250 London underground stations and also 8,000 bus stops situated across UK.
People who visit the site can also view walking routes and also a number of bus timetables. An option at thetrainline.com allows the users to view the availability of tickets, which can also be booked online.
Richard Rowson, the product development director of thetrainline.com said that the intention was to give travellers the option of choosing to travel around the country by train and to also organise those journeys in a better way. The launch of the new feature comes just before the Olympic Games to be held in London. During the games, more than 30 million tourists are expected to visit and Google Maps is available in over 50 languages.
The chairman of VisitBritain, Christopher Rodrigues said that that initiative was exciting and that it will help those who will be visiting London for the 2012 Olympics. The chairman also said that the new service will encourage the people to explore places out of the capital.
Adele denies reports of boyfriend Simon Konecki being married
UK Today News: British singer Adele has recently spoken out for the first time about her boyfriend stating that Simon Konecki is divorced. The singer clarified the news after the reports surfaced that Konecki was still in the process of divorcing his ex.
The 23-year-old singer wrote on her website that it was for the first and last time she wanted to talk about her relationship with Simon. Adele said that contrary to the recent reports in the press, Simon is divorced and has been for four years. The ‘Someone Like You’ singer added that everyone in their lives separately and together wish them nothing but the best and vice versa.
Simon has a five year old daughter with his ex wife and is known as Swampy among his friends. When the 36-year-old married his wife Clary Fisher, he was a director of the EBS Group, which is an investment holding company. Adele also assured of her upcoming appearance at the Brit Awards next month.
Our sources state that the award-winning singer has met Simon’s parents when the two were holidaying in Florida. Adele has been undergone throat surgery last year and her appearance at the Brit Awards will be a come back for her.
Kelly Brook regrets stripping at the age of 16
UK Today News: British model actress and TV presenter Kelly Brook recently confessed that she regrets posing topless as a teenager. At the age of 16, the model stripped for a tabloid newspaper and then continued to do a number of racy shoots.
Some of her racy shoots also included posing naked for Exhibition magazine last year. Kelly might be comfortable posing undressed, but now says that she regrets posing topless when she was barely legal.
While talking to Now Magazine, the bombshell said that she looks back at the time when she posed nude and thinks that there is something about it that she felt she was young. Brook also said that she did not feel the same way at that time but did not do it for a long time.
Recently, Kelly stripped for launching her new range of underwear for New Look. The model said that she has the whole collection she has designed for New Look too and added that they are comfortable to wear and looks super sexy. While talking about the secret of her figure, the 32 year old revealed that she walks a lot and also indulges in plenty of love making which is a great cardio workout. Kelly also said that she wasn’t in any hurry to get pregnant in 2012.
Sinead O’Connor admitted to hospital for depression
UK Today News: Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has been admitted to hospital following some recent incidences of her on and off marriage. The singer has been admitted for the treatment of her depression.
O’Connor said that she expects to spend at least two weeks with the doctors with a view to get back smiling . The singer showed confidence in the team under whom she is being treated and says that they will put her back together.
Sinead has been married to her fourth husband for two months and had almost given up her marriage with Barry Herridge. The singer revealed that her marriage to Barry ran in to trouble just three hours after the wedding.
O’Connor has always been open about talking about her mental health problems and once asked for referrals to a psychiatrist on Twitter. Reports say that the “Jump in the River” singer had even attempted suicide earlier this month. The singer has always expressed her every emotion on the social networking site.
On January 17, 2012 Sinead revealed that she is going off radar while she seeks treatment and that it was the right decision to call hospital. O’Connor is also due to release her long anticipated ninth studio album ‘How About I BE Me (And You Be You) on February 20, 2012.
BAFTA 2012 – The Artist, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy grab maximum nominations
UK Today News: The nominations for the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) have been announced on January 17, 2012. BAFTA awards have been seen as the British equivalent of the Academy Awards due to which they are certainly of great importance in the UK and every film wants to be a winner of these gongs.
The already popular silent film ‘The Artist’ has grabbed the maximum of 12 nominations this year, which includes the Best Picture. This year’s BAFTA nominations have got some surprises too with ‘Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy’ receiving 11 nominations which include Best Leading actor, Best Picture and Best director.
‘Drive’ has been included in the Best Picture category. Actress Carey Mulligan has also been nominated for the Best Supporting actress for ‘Drive’.
Martin Scorsese has been nominated for Best director for ‘Hugo’. The film maker has also been nominated for his work in the documentary ‘George Harrison: Living In The Material World’. Scorsese will also be receiving the BAFTA’s Academy Fellowship, which is no less than a lifetime achievement award. It will also be interesting to see if that will affect his chances to win the Best Director’s trophy. But this year ‘The Artist’ is surely going to dominate the award ceremony.
The BAFTA Award ceremony will be held on February 12, 2012, which is just two weeks before the 2012 Academy Awards event.
The complete list of the BAFTA Film Award nominations in 2011. (Courtesy: Bafta.org press release)
BEST FILM
THE ARTIST Thomas Langmann
THE DESCENDANTS Jim Burke, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
DRIVE Marc Platt, Adam Siegel
THE HELP Brunson Green, Chris Columbus, Michael Barnathan
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo
OUTSTANDING BRITISH FILM
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN Simon Curtis, David Parfitt, Harvey Weinstein, Adrian Hodges
SENNA Asif Kapadia, James Gay-Rees, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Manish Pandey
SHAME Steve McQueen, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman, Abi Morgan
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Tomas Alfredson, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Robyn Slovo,
Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughan
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN Lynne Ramsay, Luc Roeg, Jennifer Fox, Robert Salerno,
Rory Stewart Kinnear
OUTSTANDING DEBUT BY A BRITISH WRITER, DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER
ATTACK THE BLOCK Joe Cornish (Director/Writer)
BLACK POND Will Sharpe (Director/Writer), Tom Kingsley (Director), Sarah Brocklehurst (Producer)
CORIOLANUS Ralph Fiennes (Director)
SUBMARINE Richard Ayoade (Director/Writer)
TYRANNOSAUR Paddy Considine (Director), Diarmid Scrimshaw (Producer)
FILM NOT IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
INCENDIES Denis Villeneuve, Luc Déry, Kim McCraw
PINA Wim Wenders, Gian-Piero Ringel
POTICHE François Ozon, Eric Altmayer, Nicolas Altmayer
A SEPARATION Asghar Farhadi
THE SKIN I LIVE IN Pedro Almodóvar, Agustin Almodóvar
DOCUMENTARY
GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD Martin Scorsese
PROJECT NIM James Marsh, Simon Chinn
SENNA Asif Kapadia
ANIMATED FILM
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN Steven Spielberg
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Sarah Smith
RANGO Gore Verbinski
DIRECTOR
THE ARTIST Michel Hazanavicius
DRIVE Nicolas Winding Refn
HUGO Martin Scorsese
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Tomas Alfredson
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN Lynne Ramsay
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
THE ARTIST Michel Hazanavicius
BRIDESMAIDS Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig
THE GUARD John Michael McDonagh
THE IRON LADY Abi Morgan
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS Woody Allen
ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
THE DESCENDANTS Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
THE HELP Tate Taylor
THE IDES OF MARCH George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon
MONEYBALL Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Bridget O’Connor, Peter Straughan
LEADING ACTOR
BRAD PITT Moneyball
GARY OLDMAN Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
GEORGE CLOONEY The Descendants
JEAN DUJARDIN The Artist
MICHAEL FASSBENDER Shame
LEADING ACTRESS
BÉRÉNICE BEJO The Artist
MERYL STREEP The Iron Lady
MICHELLE WILLIAMS My Week with Marilyn
TILDA SWINTON We Need to Talk About Kevin
VIOLA DAVIS The Help
SUPPORTING ACTOR
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER Beginners
JIM BROADBENT The Iron Lady
JONAH HILL Moneyball
KENNETH BRANAGH My Week with Marilyn
PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN The Ides of March
SUPPORTING ACTRESS
CAREY MULLIGAN Drive
JESSICA CHASTAIN The Help
JUDI DENCH My Week with Marilyn
MELISSA MCCARTHY Bridesmaids
OCTAVIA SPENCER The Help
ORIGINAL MUSIC
THE ARTIST Ludovic Bource
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross
HUGO Howard Shore
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Alberto Iglesias
WAR HORSE John Williams
CINEMATOGRAPHY
THE ARTIST Guillaume Schiffman
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Jeff Cronenweth
HUGO Robert Richardson
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Hoyte van Hoytema
WAR HORSE Janusz Kaminski
EDITING
THE ARTIST Anne-Sophie Bion, Michel Hazanavicius
DRIVE Mat Newman
HUGO Thelma Schoonmaker
SENNA Gregers Sall, Chris King
TINKER TAILOR SOLIDER SPY Dino Jonsater
PRODUCTION DESIGN
THE ARTIST Laurence Bennett, Robert Gould
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 Stuart Craig, Stephenie McMillan
HUGO Dante Ferretti, Francesca Lo Schiavo
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Maria Djurkovic, Tatiana MacDonald
WAR HORSE Rick Carter, Lee Sandales
COSTUME DESIGN
THE ARTIST Mark Bridges
HUGO Sandy Powell
JANE EYRE Michael O’Connor
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN Jill Taylor
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Jacqueline Durran
MAKE UP & HAIR
THE ARTIST Julie Hewett, Cydney Cornell
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 Amanda Knight, Lisa Tomblin
HUGO Morag Ross, Jan Archibald
THE IRON LADY Marese Langan
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN Jenny Shircore
SOUND
THE ARTIST Nadine Muse, Gérard Lamps, Michael Krikorian
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 James Mather, Stuart Wilson, Stuart Hilliker, Mike Dowson, Adam Scrivener
HUGO Philip Stockton, Eugene Gearty, Tom Fleischman, John Midgley
TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY John Casali, Howard Bargroff, Doug Cooper, Stephen Griffiths, Andy Shelley
WAR HORSE Stuart Wilson, Gary Rydstrom, Andy Nelson, Tom Johnson, Richard Hymns
SPECIAL VISUAL EFFECTS
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN: THE SECRET OF THE UNICORN Joe Letteri
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS – PART 2 Tim Burke, John Richardson, Greg Butler, David Vickery
HUGO Rob Legato, Ben Grossman, Joss Williams
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Joe Letteri, Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White
WAR HORSE Ben Morris, Neil Corbould
SHORT ANIMATION
ABUELAS Afarin Eghbal, Kasia Malipan, Francesca Gardiner
BOBBY YEAH Robert Morgan
A MORNING STROLL Grant Orchard, Sue Goffe
SHORT FILM
CHALK Martina Amati, Gavin Emerson, James Bolton, Ilaria Bernardini
MWANSA THE GREAT Rungano Nyoni, Gabriel Gauchet
ONLY SOUND REMAINS Arash Ashtiani, Anshu Poddar
PITCH BLACK HEIST John Maclean, Gerardine O’Flynn
TWO AND TWO Babak Anvari, Kit Fraser, Gavin Cullen
THE ORANGE WEDNESDAYS RISING STAR AWARD (voted for by the public)
ADAM DEACON
CHRIS HEMSWORTH
CHRIS O’DOWD
EDDIE REDMAYNE
TOM HIDDLESTON
