Quvenzhane Wallis as Hushpuppy in Beasts of the Southern Wild
Posted by | Ray Cornelius
Oscar nominations were announced this morning and nine-year-old “Beast of the Southern Wild” star Quvenzhane Wallis, made history by becoming the youngest person ever to be nominated for an Academy Award.
Wallis, gave a riveting performance as Hushpuppy, an imaginative New Orleans youth who lives with her dying father in the flooded Delta community. Wallis, who has created quite a buzz since the film’s debut last summer, is up against some stiff competition including Naomi Watts, Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence and Emmanuelle Riva. Riva, 85, ironically is the oldest actress ever to be nominated and will turn 86 the evening of the Oscars. Beasts is also up for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
Denzel Washington as Whip Whitaker in Flight
Also scoring a nomination in the Best Actor category is Denzel Washington for his role as the alcohol and drug addicted pilot, Whip Whitaker in “Flight.” Loosely based on the real life emergency landing of US Airways Flight 1549, “Flight” has Washington playing a moody pilot that must deal with overnight celebrity and personal demons after having miraculously landing a plane. Washington has already won two Oscars, Best Supporting Actor for “Glory” in 1989 and Best Actor for “Training Day” in 2001.
Adele tweeted that she felt like ‘Meryl Streep’ upon hearing today’s big announcement
Django Unchained received five nods including Best Original Screenplay, Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor in Lead Role (Christoph Waltz), Best Cinematography and Best Sound Editing. Adele’s “Skyfall” was also nominated for Best Music (Original Song) for the James Bond thriller of the same name.
Other big contenders include “Lincoln” who leads all the films with 12 nominations, “Life of Pi” with 11 nods and “Les Miserables” and “Silver Lining Playbook,” who tied with eight nominations each.
Click here to see the full list of nominees. The Academy Awards will air on Sunday, February 24 at 7pm on ABC.
