What the nominees are saying (updated)

By M&C Movie News Jan 24, 2007, 3:36 GMT

Nominees are beginning to comment on their Oscar nominations. Here is what they are saying, (We will update this article as more comments are released - check back often):

Babel

"I'm extremely batty. I hope this nomination will drive audiences to see the film. It deserves to be seen. That's why you make films. When I was 9 years old, I used to practice my 'I'd like to thank...' speech in front of my brothers with a Coke bottle (as a mic). I hope to do it for real this year."

Guillermo Arriaga (nominated screenplay)

"I didn't sleep well, obviously. I watched the announcement on TV with my husband and we were jumping and screaming and crying and kissing. When I was younger and I was starting in theater, I thought, 'What if I got to the Oscars?' but I never thought it possible for this. I'm very happy that dreams are still possible."

Adriana Barraza (nominated actress in a supporting role)

Happy Feet

 "We tried to make Happy Feet different from anything that has been seen before.  It was a crazy four year labor of love that brought together great talent from all around the world.  A stunning voice cast, brilliant singers and musicians, an army of young and passionate animators and visual effect artists who were determined to push the technology to its limits.  To know that the film has been so widely embraced and now acknowledged by an Academy nomination for Best Animated Film validates all our best labors....It means we weren't so crazy after all."

George Miller (director of nominated animated film)

The Last King of Scotland

"I worked hard on this character and put so much of my spirit and soul into it," he said. "Now let's fill those theater seats."

Forrest Whitaker (nominated lead actor)

Letters From Iwo Jima

"This was Clint's vision. Iris (Yamashita) and I just helped him to bring the film to life. We're just along for the ride, hanging onto his coattails.

I called him (Eastwood) at 10 a.m. when the nominations for 'Million Dollar Baby' were announced. I said, 'Congrats,' and he said, 'For what?' He had just woken up."

Paul Haggis (nominated original screenplay)

The Departed

 “I am very pleased that The Departed has been honored with five nominations for this year’s Academy Awards. I am particularly happy that the hard work of the entire cast and crew has been rewarded with a Best Picture nomination and that the specific contributions of Mark Wahlberg, our screenwriter William Monahan, and my longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker have been recognized with nominations as well.”

Martin Scorsese (nominated director)

"This is a very great honor. In writing, rewards can be kind of thin on the ground, and it's nice to be recognized. Thanks to the Academy voters and to everyone who made The Departed a success."

William Monahan (nominated screenplay)

"I was able to put my real-life experiences with the Boston Police to good use after all. After all the torture I have put them through, to know they cried happy tears today. I'll think about that for a while."

Mark Wahlberg  (nominated actor supporting role)

Blood Diamond

“I’m honored to receive this nomination from the Academy -- especially in a year full of such worthy nominees. I'm grateful to everyone who has supported Blood Diamond. Being nominated is a tribute to everyone who worked on this film -- especially Ed Zwick. I am also thrilled for Djimon, Mark and Marty - all so deserving of this recognition.”

Leonardo DiCaprio (nominated lead actor)

An Inconvenient Truth

"The film has brought awareness of the climate crisis to people in the United States and all over the world," Gore said in an e-mail press statement to the AP. "I am so grateful to the entire team and pleased that the Academy has recognized their work. This film proves that movies really can make a difference."

Al Gore (cast/narrator in nominated documentary)

"My wife and I snuck downstairs while the kids were asleep and we watched it together on TV. Al (Gore) and I had a nice talk and he's over the moon. It's exciting that he's going to be recognized, and when he walks down the red carpet next month, it's going to be a hero's walk. He's tried to tell this story for almost 40 years, and now people are finally listening."

Davis Guggenheim (director nominated documentary)

Notes on a Scandal

"This is only my second film, so I'm learning on the job. The nomination may never happen again, so I'm gonna enjoy it while it's here."

Patrick Marber (nominated screenplay based on material previously produced or published)

The Queen

"Iam amazed!  If I wasn't - it would be terrible. Clint, Martin:  Listen if you get put on a list with those guys – its fantastic!"

Stephen Frears (nominated director)

"I thought this is going to be so embarrassing if I'm not nominated, because there's always doubt. When you've had a career as long and wonderful as I have, there are ups and downs and disappointments. You get used to them. You can't let them influence your life and work too much."

Dame Helen Mirren (nominated lead actress)

Volver

"I'm very happy and very excited. I still can't believe it. I was sleeping at home, and then my father woke me up and I heard Selma's voice on the TV.

Initially, a nomination seemed impossible, like my wildest dream come true. This all seems like science fiction. I'm very excited and I still can't completely believe it.

I think my family was more confident than I was that it was gonna happen. It was beautiful when Selma started screaming, her reaction was so real. I felt bad for Pedro, because he deserved a foreign-language nomination.

I've received so many loving messages from Spain and people I haven't spoken to in years are very excited for me. It's the first time it has happened to an actress from my country.”

On working with Pedro Almodovar: "He's the reason I became an actress, so I could work with him. I knew the role would give me a different kind of credibility, and I knew I was in good hands, so there was a magical energy on set. “

Penelope Cruz (nominated lead actress)

Little Children

"I'm not sure what it is, but I seem to be having a pretty good day. Needless to say, I did a little tossing and turning last night. My wife, Amelia, got up early and I was pretending to sleep. She came into the bedroom screaming and crying and absolutely beside herself yelling, 'You got it, you got it!' I was totally overwhelmed with emotion. We just held each other and cried and shared the experience.

With everything I've been through and experienced, for the Academy to vote and include me, it's a wonderful, validating feeling."

On his character (a sex offender): "When I first heard about (him), I was concerned, but after reading the script and the way it dealt with the character's sensibilities, I knew I wanted to do it. I think it's a wonderful film that deserves a wider audience."

Jackie Earle Haley (nominated actor supporting role)

"I've been laughing, crying, hollering, whooping and leaping around. My husband, Sam (Mendes), called me. He's in London, I'm in New York. I had just dropped my daughter at school and I was taking my son. There was some serious fist pumping, pounding the ceiling of the car.

This isn't supposed to happen to a girl who grew up in a tiny town. I was told the only way I'd have a career as an actress would be if I could settle for playing fat girls.”

On co-star Jackie Earle Haley's nod: "It's not just a whole new career, it's a whole new life. It's gonna change him and his self esteem.”

Kate Winslet (nominated lead actress)

Little Miss Sunshine

"It was 6:30 in the morning and one of my sons, Matthew, called me and gave me the news. This one (‘Little Miss Sunshine’) seems to have particular resonance for audiences. Just seeing the look on people's faces when they talk about it. I haven't had time to think about celebrating, but it's been nice hearing from a lot of old friends who seem to be very happy for me."

Alan Arkin (nominated actor supporting role)

 United 93

"I can't remember who told me because I was in the middle of shooting 'The Bourne Ultimatum.'

I'm very proud to represent those families and those who played a part in 9/11, from the air traffic controllers to law enforcement officials.

You can never escape the tragedy of what happened and the enduring pain, and of course, there are great questions and challenges that remain with us in the wake of those events. You have to take this nomination with humility in the face of those events.

Paul Greengrass (nominated director)

After the Wedding

"I was watching CBS news, sitting in bed in New York, not really believing it. It's usually quite hard for movies to travel, but it has done really well in the few territories where it has opened. As a director, my job is to find the truthful moment, so that's what I tried to do. I just wanted to tell the story right and not concern myself with everything else around me."

Susanne Bier (director nominated foreign language film – Denmark) 

 Water

"When they announced 'Water,' I was jumping up and down. It was totally infantile behavior. I've seen all the films in the category and they're all fabulous. It's a very strong year, and what great company to be in."

Deepa Mehta (director nominated foreign language film – Canada)

Monster House

"This is my first movie, so now I'm cursed. Monster House captured everything I love about movies. All I had to do was contain my excitement in telling the story, because I was making the movie for a younger version of me. It was pretty much a dream come true that I got to make it with two of my heroes, Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis.

The whole thing is tinged with a dreamlike quality that just seems impossible. Once you taste animation, and the power you have to tell a story, it's tough to relinquish that power. When you work on an animated film, you get a sense of just how much power a story has over an audience.  You're creating a story and a world out of thin air, so it doesn't wash off easily."

Gil Kenan (director of nominated animated film)