Results tagged “nominations”

The 2009 Tony Award nominees were announced this morning, and competition for a nod was particularly intense this year because the 2008-09 theater season saw the highest number of new Broadway plays, musicals, and revivals in 25 years—and an unusually large percentage of them weren't just flashy drivel. Take for example, reasons to be pretty, Neil LaBute's stirring relationship-wreckage play: the Broadway production nabbed three desperately-needed Tony nominations—including Best Play and one for Gothamist crush Marin Ireland—but the show is hanging by a thread at the Lyceum Theatre, filling just 30% of the house last week.

Earlier today, President Obama said, "We know the only way to solve the great challenges of our time is to put aside stale ideology and petty partisanship, and embrace what works," while introducing new Commerce Secretary nominee Judd Gregg, a Republican senator. Of course, Gregg is the second nominee for that position—former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson dropped out due to a corruption probe. And, today, two other appointees—Nancy Killefer, Chief Performance Officer nominee, and former Senate majority leader Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services Secretary nominee—withdrew their names from the running due to tax issues, an issue that mired Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's confirmation process in some drama.

Hey, cheer up bankrupt, war-weary America! The nominees for the 81st Academy Awards were announced this very morning in Beverly Hills at 5:30 in the freaking morning—of course, everyone over there is always up at dawn doing yoga and colonics anyway. And it's a big day for local Off Broadway star and Red Hook denizen Michael Shannon, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Revolutionary Road. He'll no doubt lose to Heath "Know How I Got These Oscars?" Ledger, and rightfully so, but it's nice to see a local boy (yes, via Chicago) make good. (We most recently caught Shannon in Lady.)

• Perhaps the big surprise (besides Juno getting nominated for Best Director and Best Picture) was Ruby Dee for her work in American Gangster (its only other nomination was for art direction)

Then of course there is Julian Schnabel, whose film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly got a nomination for direction. NYMag doesn't think this will be enough for him, however. Some other notes:

Angelina Jolie wasn't nominated for A Mighty Heart

The Academy had less Anglophilia this year, as Atonement was shut out of Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Actor

The critically acclaimed Zodiac was shut out

"Falling Slowly" from Once was nominated (yay!)

Jonny Greenwood is ineligible for his work on the There Will Be Blood score (boo!)

Four of the five documentaries nominated are related to the Iraq war (the fifth is Michael Moore's Sicko);

If the axiom about Best Picture winners having a film editing nomination is true, than No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood are the two Best Picture front runnersThe main nominations are after the jump and who do you think should win an Oscar this year?