When the Academy Award nominations were announced on Jan. 16, it came as no surprise that UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television alum Alexander Payne, his black-and-white film “Nebraska” — which he has called “a comedy with moments of gravity” — and its stars Bruce Dern and June Squibb were all nominated for Oscars (“Nebraska” has also received nominations in the best original screenplay and cinematography categories). After all, the film has been receiving acclaim from critics’ associations, entertainment industry guilds and awards ceremonies since it won the Palme d’Or and Dern won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

 

With Thursday’s announcement, Payne now has two directing nominations under his belt (he was previously nominated for 2004’s “Sideways”), one adapted screenplay nom (1999’s “Election”), a best picture nom (2011’s “The Descendants”) and two wins in the adapted screenplay category (“The Descendants” and “Sideways”) for a total of six nods from the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.

 

For those who like keeping score, some interesting facts have emerged since the nomination announcement, according to The Hollywood Reporter:

• “Nebraska” is the eighth predominately or entirely black-and-white film since 1970 to score a best picture nomination. The others were 1971’s “The Last Picture Show,” 1974’s “Lenny,” 1980’s “The Elephant Man” and “Raging Bull,” 1993’s “Schindler's List” (Oscar winner), 2005’s “Good Night, and Good Luck” and 2011’s “The Artist” (Oscar winner).

• “Nebraska” is the 11th predominately or entirely black-and-white film to score a best cinematography nomination since the black-and-white cinematography category was eliminated in 1967. Its predecessors include: 1967’s “In Cold Blood,” “The Last Picture Show,” “Lenny,” “Raging Bull,” 1983’s “Zelig,” “Schindler's List” (Oscar winner), 2001’s “The Man Who Wasn't There,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” 2009’s “The White Ribbon,” and “The Artist.”

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