Unknowns invited to Oscar party

By Neil Smith Entertainment reporter, BBC News

Richard who? Melissa what? This year's Oscar nominations have cast the spotlight on a host of previously unknown talents.

Jenkins and Leo may be familiar faces but they are hardly household names

Angelina Jolie is one of the most famous celebrities on the planet, while Meryl Streep is probably Hollywood's most respected actress.

Since Titanic everyone knows who Kate Winslet is. Thanks to roles in Brokeback Mountain and The Devil Wears Prada, meanwhile, Anne Hathaway is fast establishing herself as an international star.

The vast majority of people, though, would have trouble picking Melissa Leo out of a line-up.

Yet somehow this 48-year-old New Yorker now stands beside them on the Oscar shortlist, having been nominated for best actress for her role in the independent film Frozen River.

The eagle-eyed spotted her promise a year ago when this atmospheric tale of a cash-strapped single mother turned reluctant human trafficker premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Even so, some will be surprised to see such a relatively unsung talent shortlisted for such a high-profile award.

The same applies to best actor hopeful Richard Jenkins, a well-rounded stalwart known to millions for his recurring role in TV's Six Feet Under.

A marquee name he is not, however, making him very much the mystery man in a category that also includes Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and comeback king Mickey Rourke.

Rank and file

It doesn't stop there, either. Relative unknowns Michael Shannon and Taraji P Henson have also been invited to the Oscar party for their work in Revolutionary Road and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button respectively.

There is also room on the red carpet for Doubt's Viola Davis and Frost/Nixon's Frank Langella - established performers certainly, but hardly household names.

Both Davis and Henson are nominated for the best supporting actress award

Will they win? Probably not. In their case, though, it really is enough to be nominated.

Millions will soon know their names. More importantly, so will hundreds of casting agents, directors and studio executives.

Being an actor, they say, is all about the next job. And there is something about the words "Oscar nominee" that makes that next job came all the faster.

All have undoubtedly earned their place in the Oscar limelight - but could there be another factor influencing this year's nominations?

Hollywood is facing the prospect of a lengthy actors' strike, depicted by many as a symbolic face-off between the heartless big studios and the humble day-player.

Is it a mere coincidence that rank and file actors - the ones who don't get their faces on magazine covers or stars on Hollywood Boulevard - are getting their time in the sun?

What the Academy giveth, though, it can also taketh away. Eth.

Shortfall

Though Clint Eastwood's film Changeling received three nominations, the man himself was passed over in the directing, acting and even music categories.

So was Bruce Springsteen, whose Golden Globe-winning theme song for The Wrestler was oddly overlooked for best song.

Neither Clint Eastwood nor Bruce Springsteen received nominations

So, incidentally, was the Quantum of Solace theme Another Way to Die, Eastwood's title track from Gran Torino and the entire score of High School Musical 3.

All had made the best song longlist announced last month, only to be left out of the final three.

In their place came two songs from Slumdog Millionaire and one from Wall-E, warbled by Peter Gabriel.

Not a lot of tunes at this year's ceremony then, though host Hugh Jackman may well make up the shortfall.

In this, as in other ways, the Academy voters have gone their own sweet way.

Take, for example, Kate Winslet's nomination for what is clearly the lead role in postwar drama The Reader.

The film's producers had been campaigning to squeeze her into the best supporting actress category - no doubt to forestall competition with her other release, Revolutionary Road.

Academy members were not fooled, however, putting her up for best actress at the expense of her husband Sam Mendes' film.

Only the one acceptance speech then, should the British star be fortunate enough to break her Oscar duck.

At least that will save her a fortune in tissues.