Nine vie for Oscar's best pic

Nine films received best picture Oscar nominations Tuesday, the very first year where the Academy of movement Picture Arts & Sciences permitted for that number to alter between five and 10. The flicks that made their email list are "The Artist," "The Descendants," "Very Noisy and extremely Close," "The Assistance,Inch "Hugo," "Night time in Paris," "Moneyball," "The Tree of Existence" "War Equine." "Hugo," Martin Scorsese's love letter to film (and film upkeep), brought the nominations with 11, then 10 for an additional tribute to filmmaking, the black-and-whitened quiet "The Artist," while "Moneyball" and "War Equine" gained six each. The entire year is notable because of its mixture of kudos first-time challengers and veterans. Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, gained their seventh best-pic nominated film for "War Equine." Also for that seventh time, Woodsy Allen obtained as author and director for "Night time in Paris," meaning he's passed Billy Wilder for your double-whammy recognition. "Meryl Streep gained her 17th nom for "The Iron Lady." John Williams was presented with two noms, for "War Equine" and "The Adventures of Tintin," getting his overall tally to 47. (Wally Disney supports the individual record, and Allen is third, together with his 22nd and 23rd noms.) Within the lead acting groups, first-timers include Demian Bechir, "A Much Better Existence" Jean Dujardin, "The Artist" Gary Oldman, "Mess Tailor Soldier Spy" Rooney Mara, "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo" and Berenice Bejo, "The Artist" gained their first noms. For supporting roles, Jonah Hill, "Moneyball" Jessica Chastain and Octavia Spencer, "The AssistanceInch Melissa McCarthy, "Bridesmaids" will also be recently minted nominees. You will find also several best picture nominees that did not earn acting noms: "Hugo," "Night time in Paris," "The Tree of Existence" and "War Equine" counseled me notable for no performance noms. Within the animated feature category, DreamWorks Animation nabbed two with "Kung Fu Panda 2" and "Puss in Boots." Paramount's "Rango," GKIDS' "The Cat in Paris" and "Chico & Rita" rounded the category, which incorporated five photos since 18 were qualified. (This past year, there have been three challengers, when just 15 photos were qualified.) Although several nominated picture happen to be appearing as faves among experts groups, guild honours and also the Golden Globes, Tuesday's nomination announcement finishes several weeks of speculation in regards to a murky Oscar race which has left prognosticators with couple of obvious management. Among best picture nominees, DreamWorks' "The AssistanceInch (launched through Disney) may be the greatest studio boxoffice artist, and The new sony Pictures Classics' "Night time in Paris" may be the top-generating niche film to date. No nine films have been in the very best 10 worldwide earners, unlike last year's nominees "Toy Story 3" ($1.06 billion) and "Beginning" ($824 million). However, most of the challengers continue to be playing, so final tallies aren't in yet. It can't be honours season with no couple of notable omissions, which year has plenty, including best-pic hopefuls like "Bridesmaids," "The Lady Using the Dragon Tattoo," "J. Edgar" and also the final "Harry Potter." Within the acting groups, prognosticators were surprised to determine Leonardo DiCaprio ("J. Edgar"), Michael Fassbender ("Shame") and Tilda Swinton ("We have to Discuss Kevin") not result in the leading list. Albert Brooks ("Drive") and Vanessa Redgrave ("Coriolanus") were surprise supporting omissions. In 15 of history 21 years, the film leading in nominations eventually ends up winning best picture, the newest example being this past year: "The Nobleman Speech" were built with a leading 12 noms that led to four statuettes, such as the large prize of best picture. Academy of movement Picture Arts & Sciences leader Tom Sherak and 2010 Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence introduced the nominations in a 5:38 a.m. press conference in the Samuel Goldwyn Theater at Academy headquarters in Beverly Hillsides. Final ballots is going to be mailed to voters on February. 1 and therefore are due back at PricewaterhouseCoopers by 5 p.m. February. 21. The 84th annual Oscars is going to be public survive ABC on February. 26 in the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland and proven in additional than 200 nations all over the world. Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com

Paulus to stage 'Amaluna'

PaulusDiane Paulus will direct the next touring show from Cirque du Soleil, "Amaluna," bowing in Montreal on April 19.Paulus, a.d. of Boston-area nonprofit A.R.T., helmed the Tony-winning 2009 revival of "Hair" as well as the current Broadway revival of "The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess," which opened last week.Similar to Julie Taymor's gender-switched film version of the same story, "Amaluna" puts a feminist spin on Shakespeare's "The Tempest" by positioning it as the story of a sorceress named Prospera and the power she holds over an abandoned island and her daughter's coming of age.Paulus has added nontraditional twists to Bard tales before, with her raunchy dance-club version of "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "The Donkey Show," which ran six years Off Broadway. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Exclusive 'LUV' Clip: Cracking Crabs With Common

The MTV Movie Brawl 2012 is formally on! Following a initial play-in, wild card and Sweet 16 models, only eight movies still compete in many mind-to-mind single elimination matches inside our March Madness-style bracket. Ultimately, only one of these brilliant movies might be crowned the can't-miss movie of year, as well as the choice is entirely your choice. Which movie will win the brawl with this all? Election at MTV Movies Blog deciding known! After ruling the play-in round, "The Hunger Games" captivated and left "Prometheus" within the wake. The maybe probably "Alien" prequel couldn't handle the fury of Katniss and Peeta, but nobody can? Vehicle tournament up to now, "The Hunger Games" remains the film to overcome, nevertheless it faces some stiff competition within the large-budget sci-fi flick, "John Carter." The power from the shirtless Taylor Kitsch won't be underrated. It may have been the key factor aspect in the take lower of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" through the Sweet 16. However comes the particular test, since it battles "The Hunger Games" for just about any place inside the Final 4. Can "John Carter" remove the upset in the apparently easy "Hunger Games"? Can anything stop Katniss on her behalf account in place? It's your choice to find out!

Is Ashton Kutcher Returning to two and a half Males?

The look of Asthon Kutcher as billionaire Walden Schmidt in September saved two and a half Males alive following a exit of star Charlie Sheen. And may Kutcher, whose initial deal was for starters year, stick to for the next season? "I get a good time around the program using these males and may wish to consider coming back as possible function that out," the actor told reporters at Wednesday's Television Experts Association CBS winter previews. "I have got a few features I will understand this done summer season hiatus. At this time around I'm searching advertising online just like a hiatus. Winter 2012 TV: Must-see new shows "The sale that people have structured for your show was kind of an assessment,In . he referred to. "Will we have the show on? Will we get it going? The show is outperforming the amounts from before I used to be here, therefore i think that people are responding in it. Personally, obtaining a demonstrate that people such as the ones want really, that will dictate my decision." With this particular criteria, returning looks promising. The eighth season of Males, the ultimate one starring Sheen, averaged 14.2 million audiences. Kutcher's debut on Sept. 19 came an impressive 28.7 million audiences, as well as the show's 13 episodes this season so far have averaged 16.7 million. Kutcher also triggered a stir within the TCA previews along with his short hair and clean-shaven appearance, which results in the next episode. Walden started getting a far more hirsute look because of among Kutcher's personal habits. Lately "mellow" Charlie Sheen preps his Foreign exchange series Anger Management "When I'm not concentrating on something particularly, I'm inclined to ensure it is considered an increasing area because you never know what you'll probably play," he mentioned. "Which I favor not to placed on a hairpiece or prosthetics or fake whatever. Therefore I think when [the producers which when i first met, I used to be a little shaggy." Executive producer Chuck Lorre added, "I thought it had been great to experience a lead character that didn't appear like all other lead character on television.In . For ex-cast member Sheen's lately mellowed-out attitude, Lorre mentioned, "If perhaps him well. I really do. I'm glad that he's sober and happy." two and a half Males airs Mondays at 9/8c on CBS.

Exclusive Project Runway All Stars First Look: New Host, No Immunity

Austin Scarlett Can Austin Scarlett finally sew up a win on Project Runway? Or is it Mondo Guerra's turn to take to the victory catwalk? On Thursday at 9/8c on Lifetime, Project Runway returns with a special All Stars edition that brings back 13 designers. With a new host, supermodel Angela Lindvall, judges - design icon Isaac Mizrahi and Marchesa co-founder Georgina Chapman - and Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Joanna Coles as mentor, Project Runway will not only look different but feel different as well. Project Runway's Anya: I didn't think I'd win Check out this exclusive first look at Project Runway All Stars in which the designers meet Lindvall for the first time, she breaks down the most lucrative prizes in Project Runway history, Scarlett sports a very Rhett Butler-esque mustache ... and, uh-oh, it's announced that there's no immunity! A rundown of the returning all-stars:Kenley Collins - Season 5Michael Costello - Season 8Gordana Gehlhausen - Season 6Mondo Guerra - Season 8Mila Hermanovski - Season 7Kara Janx - Season 2Elisa Jimenez - Season 4April Johnston - Season 8Rami Kashou - Season 4Austin Scarlett - Season 1Jerell Scott - Season 5Sweet P/Kathleen Vaughn - Season 4Anthony Williams - Season 7 Project Runway All Stars premieres on Thursday at 9/8c on Lifetime.