Christopher Nolan Snubbed! Does the Academy Hate the 'Inception' Director?

He has directed some of the most critically acclaimed, visually arresting movies of our time and has been celebrated by his colleagues, but this morning Christopher Nolan's name was a notable snub on the list of Best Director Oscar nominees.

Nolan -- a three-time Directors Guild of America nominee for 'Memento,' 'The Dark Knight' and 'Inception' -- has yet to be recognized in the director category by the Academy. Sure, his movies often score nominations galore; 'Inception,' for example, is up for eight awards this year, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. But for some reason, the Academy continues to ignore him as a directing contender. Now our friend from Moviefone, Sharon Knolle, dives deeper.

Could it be because his inventive movies are typically also enormous blockbusters? Doubtful. Enormous box-office success didn't prevent Steven Spielberg from joining the nominees' circle early in his career (for 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind,' 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,' all popcorn flicks). And it certainly hasn't hurt two-time-winner James Cameron.

The Academy does have something of a history of snubbing commercial directors. After all, despite his early nominations, it took Spielberg until 1993's 'Schindler's List' to actually win a directing Oscar, and wildly popular director Alfred Hitchcock never won an award in the category. However, it's still surprising that Nolan got the shaft with 'Inception.' It's not like he hasn't been racking up the kudos for the Leonardo DiCaprio film. First came a Golden Globe nomination, then one from Directors Guild of America; back home, the London-born Nolan also reeled in his first BAFTA nomination for Achievement in Direction. Yet no love from the Academy.

The 'Dark Knight' slight moved Nolan's brother Jonathan (who co-wrote 'Memento' with him) to respond with an e-mail to fans: "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."

So, what will it take for Nolan to be recognized by the Academy for his directing skills? Does he need to make a movie about Facebook, World War II or blue aliens to stand a chance? Or does he simply have to hang in there for 20 or 30 more years until the Academy finally decides it's his time? Or could it be that the Academy just confused Nolan's 'Inception' with one of the many popular Internet memes relating to the movie?

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'Restrepo' Director Tim Hetherington Killed in Libya

Oscar-nominated director Tim Hetherington died Wednesday in the midst of heavy fighting in Libya, The Washington Post reports.

Hetherington, 40, was in the war-torn country with Pulitzer Prize-nominated American photojournalist Chris Hondros, 41, and were killed when fighting broke out between Moammar Gaddafi's forces and rebels in the city of Misrata. Two other photojournalists were also hurt during the attack.

British-born Hetherington rose to fame when 'Restrepo,' his documentary chronicling the deployment of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan, was nominated for an Academy Award earlier this year. He was most recently based in Brooklyn, New York.

On Tuesday the director took to Twitter to update his followers on the situation in Libya. "In besieged Libyan city of Misrata," he wrote. "Indiscriminate shelling by Qaddafi forces. No sign of NATO."
According to CNN, Hetherington also served as a contributing photographer for 'Vanity Fair.' The magazine issued a statement from the director's family.

"It is with great sadness we learned that our son and brother, photographer and filmmaker Tim Hetherington, was killed today in Misrata, Libya, by a rocket-propelled grenade," the statement said. "Tim will be remembered for his amazing images and his Academy Award-nominated documentary 'Restrepo.' "

The statement continued, "Tim was in Libya to continue his ongoing multimedia project to highlight humanitarian issues during time of war and conflict. He will be forever missed."Filed under: Movie News - Celebrity Deaths
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Director Spike Jonze Trying to Reconnect with Michelle Williams

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Director Sidney Lumet Dead at 86

Sidney Lumet, director of Hollywood classics '12 Angry Men' (1957), 'Serpico' (1973), 'Dog Day Afternoon' (1975) and 'Network' (1976) passed away on Saturday, the New York Times reports, at his home in Manhattan. The four-time Oscar nominee, who died of lymphoma, was 86.

The Philadelphia native was a child actor on Broadway and radio, after which he worked as a TV director for CBS in the 1950's. He helmed televised productions of dramatic plays by Tennessee Williams and Eugene O'Neill, before becoming a prolific, acclaimed director of more than 40 feature films.

Lumet was given an honorary Academy Award in 2005; about the statue, Lumet later said, "I wanted one, damn it, and I felt I deserved one." In presenting the award, Al Pacino reflected on the honoree: "A Sidney Lumet movie has a signature, a stamp of individuality, a point of view....I'm forever grateful, along with all the other actors and writers who have benefited from Sidney's genius."

Over the course of his career, Lumet directed the Oscar-winning performances of Ingrid Bergman (1974's 'Murder on the Orient Express') and Faye Dunaway ('Network'). Paul Newman, nominated for his performance in Lumet's 'The Verdict,' once said, "He just had an incredible eye for the truth."
Married four times (his wives included actress Rita Gam, socialite Gloria Vanderbilt and author Gail Jones), Lumet is survived by his fourth wife, Mary Gimbel, two daughters, a stepson and stepdaughter, nine grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Friends and admirers in the industry reacted to Lumet's death, and celebrated his legacy, on Twitter.

"RIP Sidney Lumet," Jon Favreau tweeted. "I played Juror 6 in 12 Angry Men on stage in Chicago for a year. We studied his film. He was a great director."

Roger Ebert wrote, "Oh, no. Dear Sidney Lumet, RIP." He later added, "His clarity is startling, his wisdom is deep."

Joan Collins said, "Sad that the great director Sidney Lumet passed away- he leaves a fabulous film legacy."

Paul Fieg (co-creator of cult hit series 'Freaks and Geeks') tweeted, "RIP Sidney Lumet - made some of the best movies ever. Dog Day Afternoon, Network, Serpico. A true master. Thanks for being so amazing."

Greg Mottola (director of 'Superbad') told his Twitter followers, "Very, very sad to hear that Sidney Lumet has passed away. I took a class with him at film school. A great teacher, a great artist."

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Best film Cesar award goes to Des Hommes et des Dieux

PARIS - Director Xavier Beauvois on Friday won best film award for his "Des Hommes et des Dieux" in France's version of the Oscars, the Cesars, and said the movie about monks kidnapped and murdered in Algeria shed some "intelligence" on the 1996 event.Accepting the award Beauvois described the film as a "message of equality, liberty, fraternity" - referring to the French creed - and called for "