And The 2012 Oscar Nominees Are…

How soon are the Academy Awards? In about a month! On February 26th, yours truly will be on the red carpet in Los Angeles! (!!!!!!) I promise to share the final details on what I’ll be wearing as soon as it’s all figured out.

Yesterday morning bright and early, the President of the Academy and actress Jennifer Lawrence shared the nominees for this year’s Academy Awards. In case you haven’t yet heard, here they are (via Jezebel)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

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

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
The Artist – Michel Hazanavicius
Bridesmaids – Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo
Margin Call – J.C. Chandor
Midnight in Paris – Woody Allen
A Separation – Asghar Farhadi

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
The Descendants – Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash
Hugo – John Logan and Brian Selznick
Ides of March – George Clooney, Grant Heslov, and Beau Willimon
Moneyball – Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, and Stan Chervin
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan

ANIMATED FEATURE
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Bullhead (Belgium)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)

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, Alfred Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week

BEST DIRECTOR
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorcese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terence Malik, The Tree of Life

BEST PICTURE
The Artist
The Descendants
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
Warhorse

A few things occurred to me as I saw the nominees.

1 — Boy oh boy do I need to see some movies with a quickness before the ceremony! Expect to read some film reviews right here on Afrobella.com, and soon.

2 — it would have been so wonderful to see the poignant and moving Pariah get a nod somewhere. Dee Rees for best director, Kim Wayans for supporting actress, or Adepero Oduye for best actress (alongside Meryl Streep who clearly is a fan). I see some Independent Spirit Awards in Pariah’s future but a nod from the Academy would have been so lovely. Review coming soon, but you can already tell how I feel. If you haven’t yet seen Pariah, go see Pariah! Click here to find a theater near you!

3 — I was pleasantly surprised by some of the nominees — Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumulo for Bridesmaids was an unexpected delight, and although I wish the nominees were for different roles, I’m delighted for Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer in The Help, and Rooney Mara for The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. I was surprised that Shame didn’t get any nominations, and that Leonardo di Caprio didn’t get a nod for his role in J. Edgar. But HOORAY for Gary Oldman getting his first ever Oscar nomination for Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Obviously I’ll be watching on February 26! Will you? Who would you like me to try to interview, and what would you like me to ask them? It’s getting closer and closer, and I’m SO EXCITED!!