“It feels surreal. I just got a call from Javier Bardem in Spain and he was flipping out and screaming. The reality is I got up at 5:55 here in Utah and looked at the clock and figured the nominations were announced and it didn’t happen. I said to myself, ‘That’s OK I can deal with it.’ Then I realized there’s a one-hour time difference.”
-- Josh Brolin, supporting actor, “Milk”


* * *
“The best thing is that it was my best friend from New York who called and told me. She was so happy, she was crying and I’m like, ‘What has happened?’ I didn’t think it was something horrible, and then she told me. The beauty of the whole thing is that it wasn’t my publicist who called.”
-- Marisa Tomei, supporting actress, “The Wrestler”


* * *
“I didn’t sleep all night. I screamed in my husband’s ear and drank some champagne. When you’re acknowledged like this, you feel confident that you’ve reached people and you’re on the right path. That’s a basic need of any human being, expecially when you’re living out a dream like I am.”
-- Viola Davis, supporting actress, “Doubt”


* * *
“This is extraordinarily gratifying. We always felt the story of Harvey Milk was important and wanted to bring it to as many people as possible. We didn’t think our little movie would be so wonderfully received. Eight noms will go such a long way for this story.”
-- Bruce Cohen, producer, “Milk”


* * *
“I was awoken by the news. I’m in New York but a late riser. I’m kind of over the moon about it. I didn’t think any film that comes out that early is thought of in these terms. We all liked the script and it’s great recognition for all the work.”
-- Martin McDonagh, original screenplay, “In Bruges”


* * *
“It’s pretty extraordinary. I don’t quite know what to say. It was a story that needed to be told and it was told at the right time. This was my first film with Gus (Van Sant). I sort of stalked him to get the job and he screwed up and hired me. He was always willing to try anything new and narratively different.”
-- Elliot Graham, film editor, “Milk”


* * *
“It’s amazing. I certainly didn’t see this coming at all. I’m a good Oscar predictor and nearly slept in thinking let ‘Slumdog’ have it all. I don’t know what to say. Now a lot more people will go and see the movie and that’s why you make movies and enter the Oscar race.”
-- Donna Gigliotti, producer, “The Reader”


* * *
“I watched the announcements on TV and I was rooting for Gus (Van Sant) and Josh (Brolin) and everyone. Then I was about to turn the TV off and go back to bed and my brother called and was the first to tell me. It’s so wonderful, because working on this story with Sean (Penn) and with Gus were high points in my career. And to have this recognition makes me think I didn’t screw it up.
-- Danny Glicker, costume design, “Milk”


"Working with Clint Eastwood was a reward in itself that will last me a lifetime," she says of the director of the film. "It has been an exceptional year for acting, and I am honored to be in the company of these talented actors whose performances all deserve this recognition."
-- Angelina Jolie, lead actress, "Changeling"


“This nomination is such an unexpected honor and I am grateful to the Academy for the recognition. I’ve been awed by the work of my fellow nominees this year and am truly humbled to be in their company. Having been an actor for many years now, I am moved by the fact that something like this can happen at this point in my career, particularly for a film that has meant so much to me.”
-- Richard Jenkins, lead actor, "The Visitor"


"It feels pretty good but it's very disappointing about Sally (Hawkins). I can't believe any actress was better or more pronounced or complex this year. Getting the strucure and narrative drive of the thing was quite tough. At the same time, we had a great buzzing time doing it."
-- Mike Leigh, original screenplay, "Happy-Go-Lucky"


"I'm delighted for Kate. I think she did two astonishing performances in `Revolutionary Road' and in `The Reader.' Whichever one the Academy went for, I think it's her year. I think it's her turn. I think that it's wonderful for her, but I do think she's done two astonishing performances."
-- Stephen Daldry, director, "The Reader"


"It is such a thrill to be recognized in this category with these remarkably talented women. I was with my parents and my dog when I got the news and we were all overjoyed — although I'm not sure my dog knew what was going on. This is a great day to be an actress!"
-- Anne Hathaway, lead actress, "Rachel Getting Married"



"I'm extremely happy to have been nominated. And very fortunate. Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I've ever been blessed with. I'm genuinely thrilled not just for myself but for the wonderful Stephen Daldry and David Hare. These nominations are a testament to their unwavering commitment to this film. And I'm also very happy for all the people in Germany whose hard work on `The Reader' has been rewarded by these nominations. Surely Anthony Minghella and Sydney Pollack are smiling down on us today!"
-- Kate Winslet, lead actress, "The Reader"


"I was sound asleep thanks to Pinot Noir, and the phone rings at 5:30 a.m. I knew why it was ringing, so I woke up screaming and it wasn't a nightmare! … I wasn't expecting anything. All I expect is for my work to touch people, to move and inspire people. That's all I expect. I don't get into the award stuff so this is just icing on the cake! ... [Still], this is the highest honor for what I do in this industry. Think about it, for the rest of my career I will be known as 'Academy Award nominated Taraji P. Henson.' That changes everything!"
-- Taraji P. Henson, supporting actress, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"


"We were worried about Melissa (Leo's) nomination because the competition was tight. When they called her name we started to scream-cry and ran out of the room. We met up in the kitchen and came back in just in time for when they called my name. I'm still pretty much in disbelief. It feels like the year of the underdog, and who's pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. It's beautiful to see that a tiny film that's big in spirit can break through and be considered with the big films.''
-- Courtney Hunt, original screenplay, "Frozen River"


"Cruz watched the Oscar nomination announcements this morning with best friend Salma Hayek. "I did work on myself not to expect it because everyone has been screaming, 'Yes, you will get the nomination,' " Cruz said. "There's thousands of people voting, so then it's more of a surprise if you get it.""
-- Penelope Cruz, supporting actress, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"


"This is a great honor for the movie, and I'm especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button," Pitt said."
-- Brad Pitt, lead actor, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"


"I think what's really cool about it is it was a risky idea that Ben brought to me and it's a comedy and all that stuff," he said. "So I'm kind of glad it broke the sometimes precedent of not taking comedies seriously in that way."
--Robert Downey Jr, supporting actor, "Tropic Thunder"


"I was sleeping because that's my technique, and I just got it on my phone when I turned it on. It's just as good as the first time. Well, almost as good…It's really great for the movie and for the progress of [titular hero] Harvey's efforts as a gay politician."
--Gus Van Sant, director, "Milk"


"Benjamin Button was truly a labor of love and I am humbled by the nomination."
--David Fincher, director, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"


"Every take was interesting. Every take was powerhouse. It was just...for a director that loves to work with actors—I fancy myself as an actor's director—it was an absolute field day."
--Ron Howard, director, "Frost/Nixon"


"I'm ecstatic! Thank you to the Academy from the cast and crew here in Mumbai where the film was made and where it's being premiered tonight. It feels like you've given us a billion nominations!"
--Danny Boyle, director, "Slumdog Millionaire"


"I just have to keep remembering that the film nearly went straight to DVD. There was a week or two when it might never have appeared on a big screen in the United States, and the fact that it did, and Americans have taken it to their hearts, is just fantastic."
--Simon Beaufoy, adapted screenplay, "Slumdog Millionaire"


"It's delightfully surprising. I had no expectations," she said. "What does all of this mean? Four letters: W-O-R-K."
--Melissa Leo, lead actress, "Frozen River"

"I won’t lie, I was up at 4:30 AM Pacific Time this morning. I couldn’t sleep. I took a shower, I started washing dishes, I did a load of laundry… I was completely losing my mind waiting for that local ABC telecast. My heart jumped when Josh Brolin got nominated, but the tears started flowing when Gus got his. I couldn’t have asked for a better director for this project, a fiercer protector of this little spec script that meant so much to me. And that script would have been nothing without the dedicated talent of nominee Sean Penn, who truly inhabited Harvey’s soul, and Josh Brolin, James Franco, Emile Hirsch, Diego Luna, Alison Pill, Joseph Cross, and on and on. This film was a real team effort. By the time the nominations got to Best Picture, I was a wreck. Tears… lots of tears. I couldn’t breathe. My big hope had been that the Academy would recognize our film enough that Harvey’s story could get a wider release, but I could never have predicted 8 nominations including Best Picture. I’m still pinching myself. When I first heard Harvey’s story at 13, I was a closeted kid living in a conservative Mormon, military home. It was a rough time for me. Hearing Harvey’s story not only gave me the hope he talked so often about, it very likely saved my life. What happened this morning means this film WILL win a wider audience, and maybe, just maybe Harvey’s message will reach some of those kids out there today who have been told they are “less than,” that they are sick, that God does not love them, and perhaps, from the grave, 30 years later, Harvey might give those kids the hope and love he gave me so long ago. It might sound overblown to some, but I firmly believe these nominations are life-saving. I can’t thank the Academy enough."

Sondra Locke has nothing but kind words.

As quoted in the other thread, Dustin Lance Black:

Is that still the case for most kids. I mean, there are same sex dating shows on MTV now. I'm sure in some instances, it's a big issue. Texas, Oklahoma, small town Indiana. But for the most part, it seems being gay, thanks to pop culture, is much cooler than it was 10, 15, 20 years ago.

hey — not sure who to address this to as it looks like a collective effort, but I just wanted to pass along my thanks.

It's truly humbling that you guys would take the time and effort to try to get the film recognized. I, like you, was disappointed that Chris didn't get some recognition this morning, but for Heath and so many of the people who worked so hard on this thing to get nominated is thrilling.

Any nominations for a comic book movie is a thing of beauty no matter how you slice it, and that takes the sting out a bit. Besides, I've been to the big show before, and, like any of these things, it's a little disappointing. Did you know it's not even an open bar once the show starts? At least this time I would have remembered to bring a little cash so I could buy myself a drink after losing.

The best part of this experience is seeing other people getting passionate about the film the way that we did. It has been a truly incredible experience. So thank you again.

best,

jonah nolan

I am so thrilled to be honored for my work on a “The Dark Knight” and pleased that the work is appreciated by Academy members. I am, however, disappointed that Chris Nolan, and the film in general seemed to have been overlooked [in the major categories]. The whole world knows what great artistry was involved in the direction, writing and presentation of the film, and none of what I was able to achieve would have been possible without the extraordinary vision of Chris Nolan.

Wally Pfister