12 Years A Slave up for nine Oscar nominations

THE British drama 12 Years A Slave has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, including best film.

Michael Fassbender, left, Lupita Nyong'o and Chiwetel Ejiofor, right, in 12 Years A Slave. Picture: AP

Directed by Steve McQueen, it tells the true story of a free black man kidnapped into slavery in the American south. It secured Oscar nominations for Chiwetel Ejiofor as best actor, Michael Fassbender as best supporting actor and Lupita Nyong’o as best supporting actress.

Londoner McQueen, who is in the running for the best director award, said: “I’m just very excited.

“We worked very hard and we’re privileged to be in this position. You can achieve a debate in cinema that you can’t achieve with reportage or documentary. You can really connect with the audience.”

Ejiofor said: “At no point during filming, in the sweltering heat of New Orleans, did any of us ever foresee the journey this film would take us all on.

“Steve McQueen created an entire family to tell one man’s tale and I am delighted that so many of this family have also been recognised today.

“I am hugely grateful to the Academy for this great honour, and, of course, to Solomon Northup for sharing his story through his breathtaking book.”

Another British movie, Philomena, which tells the story of an Irish woman trying to find the son she was forced to give up for adoption, was nominated for best film, best adapted screenplay best music and best actress for Dame Judi Dench.

Dame Judi said: “This is just the loveliest news. I’m so happy for everybody involved, and so proud to have been part of the wonderful experience that Philomena has been.”

The nominations were revealed in Los Angeles early yesterday, and ground-breaking 3D movie Gravity and crime caper American Hustle topped the list, with ten each.

Gravity’s nods included best actress for Sandra Bullock and best director for Alfonso Cuaron, as well as a host of technical nominations for its 3D effects.

American Hustle became the 15th film in Hollywood history to secure nominations in the four main acting categories, including for Britain’s Christian Bale as best actor. Amy Adams secured her fifth nomination, and her first in the leading actress category. She has yet to win an Oscar.

Director David O Russell, who was also nominated, said: “You always worry, as sort of the captain, that one of your great performances is not going to get recognised, but you pray for them all. They all put so much into it and they did it together so it’s nice none of them got left out.”

Bookmaker William Hill said it had seen a flurry of bets for American Hustle and had made it second favourite for the best film behind 12 Years A Slave, which won that category in the Golden Globes earlier this week.

Among the names missing yesterday was Robert Redford, who had been tipped for a best-actor nod after his performance as a stricken sailor in All Is Lost – he is the only actor on screen for the duration of the film.

The winners will be announced at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday, 2 March.

NOMINATIONS

Actor

Christian Bale, American Hustle

Bruce Dern, Nebraska

Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street

Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave

Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

Actress

Amy Adams, American Hustle

Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine

Sandra Bullock, Gravity

Judi Dench, Philomena

Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

Supporting actor

Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips

Bradley Cooper, American Hustle

Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave

Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street

Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Supporting actress

Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine

Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle

Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave

Julia Roberts, August: Osage County

June Squibb, Nebraska

Director

David O Russell, American Hustle

Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity

Alexander Payne, Nebraska

Steve McQueen, 12 Years A Slave

Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

Film Music (original score)

John Williams The Book Thief

Steven Price Gravity

William Butler and Owen Pallett Her

Alexandre Desplat Philomena

Thomas Newman Saving Mr Banks

Music (original song)

Bruce Broughton and Dennis Spiegel 
“Alone Yet Not Alone” from Alone Yet Not Alone

Pharrell Williams “Happy” from Despicable Me 2

Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez “Let It Go” from Frozen

Karen O and Spike Jonze “The Moon Song” from Her

U2 “Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Adapted screenplay

Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy AND Ethan Hawke Before Midnight

Billy Ray Captain Phillips

Steve Coogan and Jeff Pope Philomena

John Ridley 12 Years a Slave

Terence Winter The Wolf of Wall Street

Original screenplay

Eric Warren Singer and David O Russell American Hustle

Woody Allen Blue Jasmine

Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack Dallas Buyers Club

Spike Jonze Her

Bob Nelson Nebraska