by Timothy M. Gray
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - There were several records set Tuesday in the nominations for the 74th annual Academy Awards.
- For the first time, two blacks are in the best actor category: Will Smith, for Ali, and Denzel Washington, Training Day. With Halle Berry of Monster's Ball in the actress race, this is the third time ever that has seen three blacks in acting races in one year (after 1972 and 1985).
- Several people earned double nominations, including Robert Altman, Todd Field, Ron Howard, Peter Jackson, Catherine Martin, Randy Newman and John Williams.
- Moulin Rouge is the first best picture nominee in decades that was filmed entirely on soundstages. It's also the second Moulin Rouge to be up for best picture, after the 1952 film.
- David Lynch won a directing bid for Mulholland Dr. -- the sole mention for his film. The last time a film received a sole directing nod was Robert Altman's Short Cuts (1994).
- Altman, 76, competing this year with Gosford Park, is among the Academy's oldest nominated helmers (including David Lean, 76, A Passage to India; Charles Crichton, 78, A Fish Called Wanda; and John Huston, 79, Prizzi's Honor). Other longtime veterans include John Williams, 70, given his 40th and 41st Oscar nominations, and Maggie Smith, 67, with her sixth Oscar bid.
- With twin nominations, John Williams sustains his record as the most mentions for a living person, and he moves up to third place in all-time Academy history. (Walt Disney holds the record with 64).
- Newcomers include several scribes who were cited for their first produced screenplay: Daniel Clowes & Terry Zwigoff, Ghost World; Rob Festinger & Todd Field, In the Bedroom; Philippa Boyens, co-scripter of Rings; and Milo Addica & Will Rokos, Monster's Ball.
- If composer Randy Newman and sound veteran Kevin O'Connell win, they go down in Oscar history. If not, they enter the record of individuals with the most nominations without a win. Newman is up for his 15th and 16th bids; O'Connell is up for his 15th. Composer Alex North and art director Roland Anderson also earned 15 nominations, but no wins.
© 2002 Reuters/Variety REUTERS