THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR WILL DICAPRIO GRAB THE AWARD? Hollywood heart-throb Leonardo DiCaprio has been talking about the affect his latest film Blood Diamond has had on him. set in Sierra Leone, the film charts the effects of the brutal diamond trade that has killed millions across Africa. And its Portrayal has made DiCaprio-who stars as Danny Archer, A South African mercenary in pursuit of a rare pink diamond that could transform his life-think twice about where he buys his diamonds from in the future, reports contact music. "If I were to ever buy a diamond again, I would certainly make sure that they a way to prove to me that it didn't come from a conflict area," he said .. Meanwhile, the film seems to be having a beneficial impact not only on DiCaprio but also on the film industry, which has given the movie numerous awards nominations. It has picked up five Oscar nominations. DiCaprio, 32, has been nominated for best Actor in the African drama and his co-star Djimom Hounsou has bagged the top nod for best actor in a supporting role and Blood Diamond is also in the running for best achievement in film editing and sound mixing and editing.
THE AWARD FOR BEST ACTRESS CRUZ NOMINATED FOR BEST ACTRESS Penelope Cruz became the first Spanish actress to be nominated as Best Actress for an Oscar which will be presented on February 25. Cruz, 32, played the leading role in the most recent film Volver directed by Pedro Almodovar and was nominated for her performance in it. However, Volver will not complete for an Oscar for the Best Foreign Film, local press said on Tuesday. Cruz will have to defeat some other candidates to win the prize: British actresses Helen Mirren for her role in the Queen, Judy Dench for notes on a Scandal and Kate Winslet for Little Children. Cruz's role in Volver is considered her best performance. Her character, Raimunda, is an uneducated woman who faces life and death with kindness and limitless vitality. has been nominated for or has own several prizes related to Cannes Festival, the European Film Academy, the British BAFTA prize, the Spanish Goya prize, the Golden Globe and the Oscar.
THE AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE BABEL'S BRAD PITT BLABBERS ABOUT STRIPPERS Babel which stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett received seven nominations including two for best supporting actresses. Recently, Pitt said that he owed his career to strippers. The Babel star used to work as personal chauffeur to a strip group women of the pole who introduced him to famous acting coach Roy London. Brad said if he hadn't met London he would never have made it in Hollywood. "Strippers changed my life." However, Pitt did not land a nomination for the Best Actor Award this year.
THE AWARD FOR BEST FOREIGN FILM DEEPA MEHTA'S WATER IN FINAL FIVE India-born director Deepa Mehta's Film WATER was on Tuesday selected among the final five Oscar award nominations for Best Foreign language category. Water, set in pre-independence India and focusing on the travails of Hindu widows, was Canada's official entry to the conveted awards. For Indian buffs, the Hindi-language film's inclusion would be some consolation after India's official entry, Rang De Basanti, did not make it to the competition. The winner will be announced at a glittering ceremony February 25 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre. Best Motion Picture of the Year Nominees:
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Nominees:
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role Nominees:
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role Nominees:
Best Achievement in Directing Nominees:
Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen Nominees
Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published Nominees
Best Achievement in Cinematography Nominees The Black Dahlia (2006): Vilmos Zsigmond Children of Men (2006): Emmanuel Lubezki The Illusionist (2006): Dick Pope Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006): Guillermo Navarro The Prestige (2006): Wally Pfister Best Achievement in Editing Nominees Babel (2006): Douglas Crise, Stephen Mirrione Blood Diamond (2006): Steven Rosenblum Children of Men (2006): Alfonso Cuarón, Alex Rodríguez The Departed (2006): Thelma Schoonmaker United 93 (2006): Clare Douglas, Richard Pearson, Christopher Rouse Best Achievement in Art Direction Nominees Dreamgirls (2006): John Myhre, Nancy Haigh The Good Shepherd (2006): Jeannine Claudia Oppewall, Gretchen Rau, Leslie E. Rollins Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006): Eugenio Caballero, Pilar Revuelta Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): Rick Heinrichs, Cheryl Carasik The Prestige (2006): Nathan Crowley, Julie Ochipinti Best Achievement in Costume Design Nominees Man cheng jin dai huang jin jia (2006): Chung Man Yee The Devil Wears Prada (2006): Patricia Field Dreamgirls (2006): Sharen Davis Marie Antoinette (2006): Milena Canonero The Queen (2006): Consolata Boyle Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score Nominees Babel (2006): Gustavo Santaolalla The Good German (2006): Thomas Newman Notes on a Scandal (2006): Philip Glass Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006): Javier Navarrete The Queen (2006): Alexandre Desplat Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song Nominees An Inconvenient Truth (2006): Melissa Etheridge("I Need To Wake Up") Dreamgirls (2006): Henry Krieger, Scott Cutler, Anne Preven("Listen") Dreamgirls (2006): Henry Krieger, Siedah Garrett("Love You I Do") Cars (2006): Randy Newman("Our Town") Dreamgirls (2006): Henry Krieger, Willie Reale("Patience") Best Achievement in Makeup Nominees Apocalypto (2006): Aldo Signoretti, Vittorio Sodano Click (2006/I): Kazuhiro Tsuji, Bill Corso Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006): David Martí, Montse Ribé Best Achievement in Sound Nominees Apocalypto (2006): Kevin O'Connell, Greg P. Russell, Fernando Cámara Blood Diamond (2006): Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer, Ivan Sharrock Dreamgirls (2006): Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie D. Burton Flags of Our Fathers (2006): John T. Reitz, David E. Campbell, Gregg Rudloff, Walt Martin Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): Paul Massey, Christopher Boyes, Lee Orloff Best Achievement in Sound Editing Nominees Apocalypto (2006): Sean McCormack, Kami Asgar Blood Diamond (2006): Lon Bender Flags of Our Fathers (2006): Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman Letters from Iwo Jima (2006): Alan Robert Murray Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): George Watters II, Christopher Boyes Best Achievement in Visual Effects Nominees Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall Poseidon (2006): Boyd Shermis, Kim Libreri, Chas Jarrett, John Frazier Superman Returns (2006): Mark Stetson, Richard R. Hoover, Neil Corbould, Jon Thum Best Animated Feature Film of the Year Nominees Cars (2006): John Lasseter Happy Feet (2006): George Miller Monster House (2006): Gil Kenan Best Foreign Language Film of the Year Nominees Efter brylluppet (2006)(Denmark) Indigènes (2006)(Algeria) Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006)(Mexico) Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)(Germany) Water (2005)(Canada) Best Documentary, Features Nominees Deliver Us from Evil (2006): Amy Berg, Frank Donner An Inconvenient Truth (2006): Davis Guggenheim Iraq in Fragments (2006): James Longley, Yahya Sinno Jesus Camp (2006): Heidi Ewing, Rachel Grady My Country My Country (2006): Laura Poitras, Jocelyn Glatzer Best Documentary, Short Subjects Nominees The Blood of Yingzhou District (2006): Ruby Yang, Thomas Lennon Recycled Life (2006): Leslie Iwerks, Mike Glad Rehearsing a Dream: Karen Goodman, Kirk Simon Two Hands: Nathaniel Kahn, Susan Rose Behr Best Short Film, Animated Nominees The Danish Poet (2006): Torill Kove Lifted (2006): Gary Rydstrom The Little Matchgirl (2006): Roger Allers, Don Hahn Maestro (2006): Géza M. Tóth No Time for Nuts (2006): Chris Renaud, Mike Thurmeier Best Short Film, Live Action Nominees Binta y la gran idea (2004): Javier Fesser, Luis Manso Éramos pocos (2005): Borja Cobeaga Helmer & Son: Søren Pilmark, Kim Magnusson The Saviour (2005): Peter Templeman, Stuart Parkyn West Bank Story (2005): Ari Sandel