Miscellaneous Movie Musings

[Alex]

As far as it goes, they actually did a good job this year with only 3 of the 20 acting nominations going to characters that were real people: Idi Amin (Forrest Whitaker), Chris Gardner (Will Smith), and Queen Elizabeth II (Helen Mirren).

Sorry for what follows, research bug popped up and I might as well share.

Last year it was eight out of 20 nominations: Truman Copote (Philip Seymour Hoffman), Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn), Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix), June Carter (Reese Witherspoon), Laura Henderson (Judi Dench), Lois Jenson (Charlize Theron), Joe Gould (Paul Giamatti), and Harper Lee (Catherine Keener).

The year before it was 8 as well: Ray Charles (Jamie Foxx), Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), J.M. Barrie (Johnny Depp), Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), Owen Brewster (Alan Alda), Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), Tatiana Rusesabagina (Sophie Okenedo), and Clara McMillen (Laura Linney)

So, considering the relative paucity in this year's nominations, it is somewhat ironic that it is almost certain that th maximum number possible will win.