Academy Awards: Denzel, Hathaway, Murray among Oscar hopefuls

Wednesday January 9, 2013 2:30 PM By Kirthana Ramisetti

Photo credit: Paramount Pictures | 3. FLIGHT
Denzel Washington brims with rock-and-roll energy as a pilot with a drinking problem, and he's so much fun that you never want the party to end. When it does, you'll realize there's more to this slick entertainment than meets the eye.
Read the review.

Oscar nominations will be announced Thursday morning, and Newsday Westchester is taking a look at which local movie stars, directors and other creative talent could receive nods.

Films expected to receive Best Picture nominations that have connections to the Hudson Valley include “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” “Les Miserables,” “Life of Pi” and “Lincoln.” “Beasts” was directed by Hastings High graduate Benh Zeitlin. “Les Miz” stars former Vassar student Anne Hathaway and Middletown native Aaron Tveit. “Life of Pi” was produced and directed by former Larchmont resident Ang Lee. And the cast of “Lincoln” includes Dutchess County resident David Strathairn.

A trio of A-list actors with Hudson Valley ties could score nominations in the Best Actor category. The front-runner is Mount Vernon native Denzel Washington for his role as an alcoholic pilot in “Flight.” Palisades resident Bill Murray, who depicted President Franklin D. Roosevelt in “Hyde Park on Hudson,” and Pound Ridge resident Richard Gere. who portrayed a crooked tycoon in “Arbitrage,” also could receive Oscar nods, though their chances are not as strong as Washington’s. All three actors received Golden Globe nominations. (The 2013 Golden Globes air Sunday, Jan. 13.)

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Rachel Weisz, who wed Daniel Craig in Stone Ridge in 2011 and with whom she reportedly owns a home in Saugerties, also seems likely to be named an Oscar nominee for her critically acclaimed lead role in “The Deep Blue Sea.” The art-house flick has won raves for Weisz, and the actress is also a Golden Globe nominee.

Hathaway, who was briefly enrolled at Vassar College, is a shoo-in to receive a nomination for her supporting role as Fantine in “Les Miserables," and many critics say she is a lock to receive the award. (And yes, she, too, is a Golden Globe nominee.)

For the Best Director category, Lee and Zeitlin have received major buzz for their films and could be named nominees. Because Lee recently was nominated for the prestigious Director's Guild of America award, he should be a lock to get an Oscar nod as well.

In addition to directing, Zeitlin also could receive nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Original Score, and his childhood friend Crockett Doob, who also grew up in Hastings, is in the running for a nomination for Best Editing for “Beasts.”

Four people with Dutchess County roots are also eligible for Oscar recognition. Strathairn is a long-shot possibility to receive a Best Supporting Actor nod. John Gatins, who was raised near Poughkeepsie and graduated from Vassar College, has a chance to earn a nomination for Best Original Screenplay for "Flight," as does Rhinebeck resident Richard Nelson for “Hyde Park on Hudson.” And Rhinebeck native Rufus Wainwright is eligible to be nominated for Best Original Song for penning the song “Metaphorical Blanket” for the film “Any Day Now.”

Check back here Thursday, when we’ll have the rundown of the locals who received Academy Award nominations. The Oscars, hosted by Seth MacFarlane, air on Sunday, Feb. 24, on ABC.

Tags: Palisades , Poughkeepsie , Mount Vernon , Saugerties , Bedford , Larchmont , Hastings , Denzel Washington , Bill Murray , Richard Gere , Rachel Weisz , Anne Hathaway , Ang Lee , Benh Zeitlin , Academy Awards , Oscars , awards , movies