La La Land movie gains
HOLLYWOOD musical La La Land yesterday became the joint most highly nominated film in the Academy Awards’ history, racking up 14 nods.
The musical, starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, joined only two other films ever to receive so many – Titanic in 1998 and All About Eve in 1951.
Gosling, 36, paid tribute to his co-star. He said: “Emma had this in the bag because she’d just come off Cabaret, so I knew she’d be carrying me.”
The film pays homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals, telling the story of jazz pianist Sebastian and aspiring actress Mia – played by Gosling and Stone – who meet and fall in love in Los Angeles.
Ms Stone, 28, said: “It’s a hypothetical situation at the moment so it’s hard to weigh in on anything that hasn’t occurred.”
Yesterday’s 89th Oscars announcement also meant La La Land became the most nominated musical of all time, beating the 13 racked up by Mary Poppins.
It is one of nine films shortlisted for best picture, taking on Arrival, Fences, Hacksaw Ridge, Hell Or High Water, Hidden Figures, Lion, Manchester By The Sea and Moonlight.
The film’s writer and director, Damien Chazelle, is nominated for best director and best original screenplay.
For director he will take on Mel Gibson, 61, for Hacksaw Ridge, Kenneth Lonergan for Manchester By The Sea, Barry Jenkins for Moonlight and Denis Villeneuve for Arrival.
Leading a charge for British Oscar success will be Andrew Garfield (best actor) for Hacksaw Ridge, Naomie Harris (best supporting actress) for Moonlight and Dev Patel (best supporting actor) for Lion.
Garfield, 33, who plays a US Army medic in Mel Gibson’s war drama, will go up against Ryan Gosling and Casey Affleck, nominated for Manchester By The Sea.
They are joined by Denzel Washington, who is recommended for Fences and Viggo Mortensen,