Image courtesy Oscars.org.
Whenever nominations for major film awards are announced (i.e. the Oscars) the studios jam our inbox with reactions from the people being nominated. It’s very helpful in writing pieces (such as the one we did on Incendies), but we hardly get to use all of them. To fix that, we’ve compiled all the statements we received today for your reading pleasure.
Javier Bardem, Actor in a Leading Role, Biutiful
“I am truly honored for this nomination. And deeply thankful to the Academy members for their trust and support. Also to all of those who showed their support to my work in Biutiful I express my heartfelt gratitude. I am very happy for Alejandro and everyone who has made possible the special movie we made together. It’s really a huge honor to have been nominated in a non-English speaking performance and in the name of all my colleagues in Spain and mine I want to show my gratitude to the Academy for support and a recognition in this nomination for the movie Biutiful.
Mark Ruffalo, Actor in a Supporting Role, The Kids Are All Right
“It is with great honor and humility that I receive my Oscar nomination. I have been included with a group of top-notch actors who I respect and admire. I am humbled to be in their presence. I also would like to acknowledge the power of ensemble acting. The kind of acting that happened in this movie does not exist in a bubble. Any honor that I receive must be shared with Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Josh Hutcherson, Mia Wasikowska, the rest of the cast, and of course the inimitable Lisa Cholodenko. Thank you to the Academy. This nomination is a win for Marriage Equality and that is the most I could hope for.”
Annette Bening, Actress in a Leading Role, The Kids Are All Right
“4 nominations and 4 kids. I am damn proud!”
Michelle Williams, Actress in a Leading Role, Blue Valentine
“I am honored to receive this nomination. Making Blue Valentine was unlike any experience I’ve ever had before, or may ever have again. I share this recognition with Ryan and Derek who always brought out the best in me. Thank you to the Academy and to The Weinstein Company for their support of this film.”
Nicole Kidman, Actress in a Leading Role, Rabbit Hole
“What an extraordinary journey this film has taken me on! Rabbit Hole has been a labor of love and I’m so thankful to John Cameron Mitchell, David Lindsay-Abaire and the brilliant cast. This nomination reflects all of the heart and soul that these people have put into it and I can’t thank them enough.”
Helena Bonham Carter, Actress in a Supporting Role, The King’s Speech
“Of course I am thrilled to receive an Oscar nomination. As my 3-year-old daughter said “Yay!” I couldn’t put it any better myself”
Lee Unkrich (Director), Animated Feature Film, Toy Story 3
“It’s an incredible honor to be nominated by the Academy. When we began making the first Toy Story, nearly 16 years ago, we never could have imagined the journey on which these films, and these characters, would take us. For Toy Story 3 to be recognized by the Academy as not only one of the best animated films of the year, but also as one of the ten best pictures of the year, is both humbling and overwhelming. I’m speechless; I feel like I’ve been blasted to infinity and beyond.”
Denis Villeneuve (Director), Foreign Language Film, Incendies
“This is one of the most intense nights and mornings in my life. This nomination feels like a very big Christmas gift to a 6-year-old. I want to share this honor with Wajdi Mouawad whose incredible play and ideas are the basis of the film. I am proud that the film conveys the same message of reconciliation as the play, a message that is quite important in 2011″.
Darla K. Anderson (Producer), Best Picture, Toy Story 3
“We are ecstatic at the Academy’s generous and humbling recognition of Toy Story 3. For everyone that worked so passionately to bring these beloved toys back to life – from our artists to the actors – it’s incredibly gratifying to be recognized alongside these other amazing films today in both the Best Picture and Best Animated Feature categories.”
Harvey Weinstein on The King’s Speech & Blue Valentine
“I’m blown away. We owe The King’s Speech nominations to our ensemble of amazing actors who gave career performances under Tom Hooper’s masterful direction. Congratulations to our fantastic producers who made a majestic film for $15 million that has now grossed over $90 million in worldwide box office. I am thrilled for the amazing Michelle Williams who was recognized for her beautiful and daring performance in Blue Valentine.”
Michael Arndt, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), Toy Story 3
“I’ve spent my whole life being inspired and moved by the work of the screenwriters of the Academy, so to be recognized by the Writers Branch this morning is deeply gratifying and profoundly humbling. While I wish I could hog all the credit for myself, I would have gone nowhere and done nothing without the collective brilliance of the entire creative community at Pixar, who have always maintained that ‘story comes first’ and who are crazy enough to actually believe it.”
Danny Cohen, Cinematography, The King’s Speech
“I’m gobsmacked! What a wonderful journey it has been, from filming in the freezing London winter to being nominated today. Thank you to the Academy for this recognition and congratulations to all of my King’s Speech colleagues. It’s something very special.”
Eve Stewart, Art Direction, The King’s Speech
“I am elated that all the hard work by my department put in on The King’s Speech, has resulted in such a treat. Working with director Tom Hooper is challenging, exacting and inspiring. He is a real friend. He pushes everybody to do their best work. My fellow nominees are brilliant. I’m just so honored to be considered among them. This seems so unreal when I’m over here on a rainy English day in my Wellington boots. It’s hard to believe this is happening.”
Robert Stromberg, Art Direction, Alice in Wonderland
“Everything feels upside down right now, which is probably fitting being honored for designing the world of Alice in Wonderland.”
Ken Ralston, Visual Effects, Alice in Wonderland
“The nomination is wonderful because working on Alice in Wonderland was one of the best creative experiences of my entire career. Tim Burton trusted us with his vision and the work on the screen is the result of an amazing collaboration with hundreds of brilliant artists, including my fellow nominees and a great team on set. You hope to have an experience like this at least once in career and I am so happy that our peers recognized the extraordinary complexity, detail and accomplishment that the visual effects in Alice in Wonderland represent.”
Colleen Atwood, Costume Design, Alice in Wonderland
“I am thrilled to be nominated. Alice was a labor of love for all of us, and to be recognized for the work is really the frosting on the cake.”
Alan Menken, Music (Original Song), Tangled
“Many of the greatest joys in my life are due to the Walt Disney Company. This nomination which comes from my work on Disney’s 50th animated film and their first CGI musical is satisfying beyond words.”
Randy Newman, Music (Original Song), Toy Story 3
“I’m honored that the Academy would choose to nominate me. I feel fortunate to have been part of the Toy Story trilogy.”
Teddy Newton, Short Film (Animated), Day & Night
“I thank the Academy for this extraordinary recognition. Creating Day & Night with the high quality team of artists and technicians within Pixar was truly a non-stop sensation of positive energy for me. I was constantly amazed by the crew’s fortitude to push through challenges and inspire each other with their ingenuity. On behalf of the team that helped bring Day & Night to life, it is an honor to be nominated.”
UPDATE: More quotes came in from Alliance Films and Sony Pictures after we posted the original story.
Aaron Sorkin, Writing (Adapted Screenplay), The Social Network
“My recommendation to anyone who wants to be nominated for an Academy Award is work with David Fincher. I’m thrilled to be nominated by the Academy and I’m especially pleased for everyone who worked so hard on the film – it is a triumph of teamwork. I’m honored to have our film nominated in such an incredible year for movies.”
David Fincher, Directing, The Social Network
“I’m very grateful and humbled by the nominations for The Social Network. I’m incredibly proud of the work of my wildly talented collaborators in front of and behind the camera — all of whom gave the best of themselves and their talents in service to a film about a ground-breaking American innovation. This directing nomination represents the sum of the work of all of us, and I want to acknowledge the vast contributions to this film of all of my good friends and creative partners. The success of our movie belongs to many people, and this nomination is theirs to share.”
Michael DeLuca (Producer), Best Picture, The Social Network
“I’m deeply grateful to the Academy for recognizing The Social Network with eight nominations. It’s a recognition for every single one of the many many people who had a hand in bringing this film to life – both in front of and behind the cameras. I’m so incredibly proud to be a producer on this film. The mirror it holds up in terms of underscoring the universal, timeless human need for love, friendship and acceptance is a testament to Aaron Sorkin’s brilliant script and David Fincher’s masterful direction. Every producer in his career wants to be a part of a film like this one. Making the film, and being a part of it continues to be an incredible gift.”
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, Music (Original Score), The Social Network
“When David approached us to write the score for The Social Network we were intrigued and excited to see what we could bring to the project – but truly couldn’t imagine it would lead to an Oscar nomination. We are extremely grateful to the Academy and very proud to have contributed to David’s vision.”
Jeff Cronenweth, Cinematography, The Social Network
“Wow… this is fantastic news. It’s going to be a great day today; even though I didn’t sleep much last night. It’s an indescribable feeling to be acknowledged alongside Wally, Matthew, Roger and Danny – cinematographers who I admire so deeply. Working on The Social Network with David Fincher has been one of the most satisfying experiences of my career to date. Oh my God, I’m so excited!”
Angus Wall and Kirk Baxter, Film Editing, The Social Network
“Wow. We are honored and blessed to have had the opportunity to work on a film with this level of creativity and collaboration. David’s direction, Aaron’s script, and performances by an amazing group of actors created the perfect storm for making a great film. Thanks to the producing team, everyone at Sony, and to the Academy for the gracious nomination. We are incredibly excited and honored!”
Geoffrey Rush, Actor in a Supporting Role, The King’s Speech
“As an Australian, I’m as excited to be recognized and honored by the Academy as my character must have been when his London speech therapy business flourished when the future King Of England happened to pop by one day. I want to pay tribute to Tom Hooper and my fellow actors in the film – it was a great privilege to work with such superb actors. This story has struck such a rich resonant chord with audiences of all ages, which is very exciting — to have your work honored by your industry peers is even better.”
The 83rd Academy Awards go down February 27, 2011. They will be televised in Canada on CTV beginning at 8 p.m. ET. For a full list of nominees, visit oscars.org.
