Speaking Louder Than Actions

Best actor and original screenplay nominee Matt Damon has followed in the footsteps of Emma Thompson and Billy Bob Thornton, who were both double nominees for acting and screenplay in the same movie. Thompson won the Academy Award for her screenplay of “Sense and Sensibility” two years ago and Thornton won last year for “Sling Blade.” Neither won in the acting category.

*

Split Decision

Best actress nominee Helen Hunt is currently starring in the NBC series “Mad About You.” If Hunt wins, she won’t be the first actress to earn an Oscar while appearing in a series. Cloris Leachman was on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” when she won best supporting actress for 1971’s “The Last Picture Show.”

*

Family Matters

If Peter Fonda wins for best actor for “Ulee’s Gold,” it will mark the first time a father, daughter and son have won acting Oscars. Henry Fonda won best actor for 1981’s “On Golden Pond,” and Jane Fonda won best actress for 1971’s “Klute” and 1978’s “Coming Home.”

*

Writer’s Bloc

With “Deconstructing Harry,” Woody Allen has received his 13th writing nomination, breaking Billy Wilder’s previous record of 12. Allen won in this category for 1977’s “Annie Hall” and 1986’s “Hannah and her Sisters.”

*

Calculators Ready?

Everyone knows that the budget for best picture nominee “Titanic” is upward of $200 million. The budgets of the four other best picture nominees--”As Good as It Gets,” “The Full Monty,” “Good Will Hunting” and “L.A. Confidential”--combined equal $114 million, give or take a few million. Or, in other words, you could make a film like “The Full Monty,” roughly 57 times over for the cost of one “Titanic.”