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A by-the-numbers look at a year of Oscar diversity, firsts
10 โ Nominations for โMank," the most of any film this year, with nods for best picture, best director for Fincher, best actor for Gary Oldman and best supporting actress for Seyfried. In the best supporting actor category, Heath Ledger and Ralph Richardson were nominated, with Ledger winning for โThe Dark Knightโ in 2009. 5 โ African nations that have received nominations for best international feature, now that Tunisia has its first nominee, โThe Man Who Sold His Skin." 4 โ Nominations received by โNomadlandโ director Chloรฉ Zhao, a record for a woman in a record year for women. 1 โ Man nominated for both best actor and best original song.
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Chadwick Boseman is posthumously nominated for an Oscar
This image released by Netflix shows Michael Potts, from left, Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo in "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom." (David Lee/Netflix via AP)NEW YORK โ Half a year after his death, Chadwick Boseman was posthumously nominated for an Academy Award on Monday for his final performance in โMa Rainey's Black Bottom.โThe nomination for best actor was widely expected but still historic. Boseman is the first Black performer ever nominated posthumously for an Oscar. He was nominated alongside Steven Yeun ("Minari"), Riz Ahmed ("Sound of Metal"), Anthony Hopkins ("The Father") and Gary Oldman ("Mank"). Three months later, the August Wilson adaptation โMa Rainey's Black Bottomโ was released by Netflix.

'Joker' toes fine line in portraying the making of a monster
There is a constituency eager to blame Hollywood for contributing to societal ills that includes plenty of dishonest brokers. (At the risk of stating the obvious, this R-rated film is not for children, although a parade of related Halloween costumes seems sadly inevitable.) Ultimately, "Joker" is about the making of a monster, told in a manner that seeks to evoke empathy without rooting for him -- a fine line, underscoring a level of ambition beyond what's usually associated with comic-book-adjacent fare. Phoenix's live-wire work alone makes "Joker" an intriguing film, if one that has been conspicuously overpraised amid the irrational exuberance of film festivals. "Joker" premieres Oct. 4 in the US and is rated R. The film is being released by Warner Bros., like CNN, a unit of WarnerMedia.

Jake Gyllenhaal Says He 'Hopes to Be a Father One Day'
"And about, for my character, someone whos just about to become a father and also he goes back into his relationship with his own father and the passing of his father and how that makes him feel, becoming a father." "I do hope to be a father one day." Also during his Sunday Today interview, Gyllenhaal discusses his career-making role in the 2005 film Brokeback Mountain, which he co-starred in alongside the late Heath Ledger. In a 2015 interview with NPR, Gyllenhaal opened up about missing Ledger, who died in 2008 at age 29 of an accidental overdose. RELATED CONTENT:Kelly Ripa Jokingly Says She Has Mark Consuelos' Blessing to Marry Jake GyllenhaalJake Gyllenhaal Does His Best Tom Holland Impersonation During Hilarious Game of 'First Impressions'Jake Gyllenhaal, Tom Holland and Zendaya Bring 'Spider-Man: Far From Home' to Children's Hospital