Oscar Nominees Phone in on GDLA

Los Angeles - Today after the Oscar nominations were announced... some of the nominees phoned into GDLA... including Viola Davis - who was nominated for her role as a maid in "The Help"... and Berenice Bejo - who received a nomination for best leading actress in a supporting role for her work in "The Artist."

Check out all the phoners in the media player.
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Two homages to film making -- one in 3-D and vivid color, the other silent and black and white -- garnered the lion's share of nominations today for the 84th Annual Academy Awards.

Martin Scorsese's "Hugo" earned 11 nominations, including best picture, narrowly besting "The Artist," which was nominated in 10 categories for its black-and-white portrayal of the golden age of Hollywood.

"The Artist" also landed a best picture nomination and is a favorite in the category after taking home the top honor from the Producers Guild of America on Saturday. The film also won a Golden Globe Award last week.

Other films up for best picture include Steven Spielberg's "War Horse," Alexander Payne's "The Descendants," Terrence Malick's "The Tree of Life," Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," the civil-rights drama "The Help," the post-9/11 family drama "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," and "Moneyball," about the successful effort of Oakland A's manager Billy Beane to put together a team with the help of computer-generated analysis.

"The Artist" would be the first silent film to win best picture in more than 80 years since the Academy named "Wings," a story of World War I fighter pilots, its first best picture in 1927.

The nominees for the 84th Academy Awards were announced in Beverly Hills by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak and 2010

Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence. Nearly 5,800 votes were cast and tallied by Pricewaterhouse Coopers.

"Nine movies got enough votes to qualify for best movie nominee. That makes for a horse race," Sherak said. "I thin that's a really good thing going into the show."

"Hugo" earned Martin Scorsese a best director nomination, as well as nods for adapted screenplay, score editing and a host of other production categories, including art direction, cinematography, and visual effects.

Actor Jean Dujardin and actress Berenice Bejo earned nominations for best leading actor and actress in a supporting role for their work in "The Artist." The film also earned a best director's nomination for Michel Hazanavicius and nominations for best original score and original creenplay.

Golden Globe winner George Clooney garnered a best-actor nomination for "The Descendants." The other nominees were Demian Bichir for "A Better Life," Jean Dujardin for "The Artist," Gary Oldman for "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," and Brad Pitt for "Money Ball."

Michelle Williams is an early favorite for a best actress Oscar for her portrayal of screen legend Marilyn Monroe in "My Week with Marilyn." Viola Davis was also nominated for her role as a maid in "The Help," Rooney Mara for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," Glenn Close for her gender-bending role in "Albert Nobbs" and Meryl Streep for her turn as Margaret Thatcher in "The Iron Lady."

For Streep, who has won two Oscars, today's nomination was the 17th -- a record.

In the best supporting actress category, the nominees were Berenice Bejo for"The Artist," Jessica Chastain for "The Help," Melissa McCarthy for "Bridesmaids," Janet McTeer for "Albert Nobbs" and Octavia Spencer for "The Help."

The nominees for best supporting actor were Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn," Jonah Hill for "Money Ball," Nick Nolte for "Warrior," Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Max von Sydow for "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close."

The early favorites to win best supporting actors Oscars are Spencer and Plummer.

The Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 26 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.