Hugh Jackman: Oscar nomination exciting, surreal

LOS ANGELES, United States of America –  Here are reactions from some of the key Oscar nominees, following the announcement of nominations for the 85th Academy Awards on Thursday, January 10. (Sources: Hollywood Reporter, CNN, ORF.)

Steven Spielberg, director, “Lincoln”

“It’s been an absolutely thrilling morning. I was awoken by (my publicist) telling me about our multiple nominations. It’s the best wake up call I’ve had in 14 years! I’m always surprised by recognition. I’m deeply grateful.”

Ang Lee, director, “Life of Pi”

“I am deeply honored and frankly a little overwhelmed by all of the nominations,” said Lee.

“Everything about this movie was an uphill battle. And it was a very difficult movie to make, so I didn’t really get to celebrate when we finished. I felt more like Pi, lost and exhausted.”

David O’Russell, director, “Silver Linings Playbook”

“It just means everything to me that we got the film made after 5 years and that it is finding audiences.”

“It’s like anything in sports or anything. If you’ve ever struggled, you are very grateful when you are getting into work that feels good… It just inspires you to keep doing good work,” he told CNN.

Hugh Jackman, actor, “Les Miserables”

“It’s very exciting but all a bit surreal, and it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. This is a brilliant awards year that has been defined by an eclectic list of stories that have been told by incredibly talented and courageous filmmakers.”

“It’s an honor to be mentioned in the same sentence as the other nominees in the Best Actor category.”

Mark Boal, producer and writer, “Zero Dark Thirty”

“Thank you to the Academy for these incredible honors. And thank you to the writers who have honored me today with their generosity and to the academy for the Best Picture nomination. None of us would be so honored today without the genius and remarkable talent of Kathryn Bigelow, and to her we are forever grateful.”

Michael Haneke, director, “Amour”

“Of course we’re very happy. We were hopeful as we’d been sort of tipped as favorites… so of course I hoped we’d get more than one nomination. That we got five is evidently a very pleasant surprise.”

“Nowadays, so many nominations go to big blockbusters, with very famous names so it’s nice that a European film d’auteur can compete with that,” he told Austria’s ORF public broadcaster.

Bradley Cooper, actor, “Silver Linings Playbook”

“I get up crazy early anyway, and I told myself, ‘Ok, I’ll take my dog to the beach, and just see what happens. Whatever goes down.’ So I watched with my mom and my dog. These things are once in a lifetime,” he said.

Robert De Niro, best actor nominee, “Silver Linings Playbook”

“I am very pleased that the Academy has chosen to honor the many individuals who were a part of Silver Linings Playbook.”

Tom Hooper, director, “Les Miserables”

“What a wonderful year for movies when nine films with this kind of diversity get acknowledged for the industry’s highest honor.

“I am so proud that Les Miserables joins them and that the Academy noted the magnificent work from Hugh, Annie, our legendary song writers and the superlative crafts experts whose work made our film what it was.” – Rappler.com