The 81st Annual Academy Awards are less than one month away, and this year’s list of nominees has proven that Oscar likes to stay within familiar territory. In the main categories, which include Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Actor there are several names that have been making appearances on the Oscar ballot for years. This year, the race for the gold statue is sprinkled with record holding performers, which include actresses, Kate Winslet and Meryl Streep. Both are nominated in the Best Actress category, and between the two of them they generate a career total of 21 Academy Award nominations. The Academy has a habit of putting a few nominees through the ringer (poor Peter O’Toole), by allowing them to get close to Oscar, but no cigar. So will previous nods give a few lucky performers the edge over the competition, or will they cancel them out completely? Is it talent or friendly faces that win the Oscar?

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…Oh and a whole lot of other people. It’s really interesting to listen to Frank Langella’s talk about accepting the role of Nixon. Even when portraying a man as well known as Nixon it’s all about trusting what’s already in you. Yes he researched and added an accent, but the heart of the character was already in him and at the end of the day very hard to let go.

To watch the long 56 minute program with Langella and Howard go here.

For a highlight of the Frank Langella interview check out the clip below… Continue Reading