In Pictures: Oscar snubs and surprises
A look at unexpected nominations, and the ones that didn't happen
SNUB: The vast majority of critics praised “The Master” as one of the best films of the year, and Joaquin Phoenix (left, best actor) and Philip Seymour Hoffman (right, best supporting actor) both earned nominations for their work, but it failed to make the Best Picture list.AP
SNUB: Also overlooked for “The Master” was director Paul Thomas Anderson.AP
SNUB: Another best director snubbee was Ben Affleck, whose film "Argo" received seven Oscar nominations, including best picture. The day after the Oscar nominations, he won the best director statue at the Critics Choice Awards.
SNUB: Yet another surprising omission from the best director list was Kathryn Bigelow of “Zero Dark Thirty.” It, too, was highly praised, and Bigelow was named best director by the New York Film Critics Circle. The film did earn a best actress nomination for Jessica Chastain and a best picture nomination.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press
SURPRISE: The French-language film “Amour” earned best picture, best director (Michael Haneke) and best actress nominations (Emmannuelle Riva).
SURPRISE: Another unexpected multiple nominee was the tiny independent film “Beasts of the Southern Wild.” It was nominated for best picture, best director (Benh Zeitlin) and best actress for its young star Quvenzhane Wallis (left, with Dwight Henry).Mary Cybulski
SNUB: Quentin Tarantino told The Globe and Mail recently that he wants to be remembered as one of the greatest directors of all time, but his latest film, “Django Unchained,” didn’t earn him a best director nomination. It did make the best picture list, though, and Christoph Waltz was nominated for best supporting actor. And Tarantino can console himself with a nomination for best original screenplay.The Globe and Mail
SNUB: Also snubbed in “Django Unchained” was Leonardo DiCaprio (right, with Jamie Foxx) for his chilling role as a sadistic plantation owner.Andrew Cooper
SURPRISE: The Canadian film “Rebelle” was nominated for best foreign-language film. Directed by Montreal filmmaker Kim Nguyen, it tells the grim story of child soldiers in Africa.
SNUB: All those nominations for foreign-language films and non-blockbusters, and yet Marion Cotillard (left, with Matthias Schoenaerts) wasn’t nominated for her acclaimed work in "Rust and Bone." The film was nominated for a Golden Globe for best foreign film on Thursday.AP
HUGE SNUB: Everyone said John Hawkes (right) with Helen Hunt) was the reason to see “The Sessions.” The much-acclaimed actor, who was nominated for best supporting actor for “Winter’s Bone” (2010), failed to earn a nomination this year.CP