BEST DIRECTOR
Lasse Hallstrom
“The Cider House Rules”
The 53-year-old Swedish filmmaker, who made his mark internationally with the nostalgic drama “My Life as a Dog,” receives his second Oscar nomination in this category. Previously, Hallstrom was nominated for his direction and screenplay 12 years ago for “Dog.” He also directed the acclaimed 1993 drama “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.”
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Spike Jonze
“Being John Malkovich”
The innovative 30-year-old director-actor, who cut his directing teeth creating music videos for the hip-hop band the Beastie Boys, scores an Oscar nomination for his first feature film--a quirky, audacious comedy that has been embraced by both critics and audiences. Jonze was nominated for a Golden Globe for his direction, as well as a Directors Guild of America honor.
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Michael Mann
“The Insider”
The 57-year-old Mann scores his first best director nomination for his drama about the relationship between a tobacco industry whistle-blower and a “60 Minutes” producer. Mann, who is also nominated for best screenplay and for producing “The Insider,” created the seminal ‘80s series “Miami Vice” and directed such hits as “The Last of the Mohicans” and “Heat.” He has also been nominated for both DGA and Writers Guild of America awards.
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Sam Mendes
“American Beauty”
The recipient of this year’s Golden Globe Award for best director, the 34-year-old Mendes nabs an Oscar nomination in this category for his first movie. The British Mendes, who received a Tony Award two years ago for “Cabaret,” is also a nominee for the Directors Guild of America Award for his work on the bleak satire.
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M. Night Shyamalan
“The Sixth Sense”
The Indian-born Shyamalan, who was raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, scores an Oscar nomination for best director for his phenomenally popular ghost story. The 29-year-old Shyamalan, who is also nominated for his screenplay, began making movies at the age of 8, and previously wrote and directed the films “Praying With Anger” and “Wide Awake.” He is nominated for DGA and WGA awards.
BEST ACTOR
Russell Crowe
“The Insider”
The chameleon-like Australian actor, who came to fame stateside in “L.A. Confidential,” garners his first Oscar nomination for his role as Jeffrey Wigand, a scientist who became a tobacco industry whistle-blower. Crowe, 35, has won the National Board of Review, L.A. Film Critics Assn. and National Society of Film Critics awards for his performance. Nominated for a Golden Globe, he is also a Screen Actors Guild Award nominee.
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Richard Farnsworth
“The Straight Story”
The sentimental favorite in this category, Farnsworth, 79, lassos his first best actor Oscar nomination for his turn as a laconic elderly man who travels hundreds of miles on a lawn mower to visit his estranged brother. The former movie stunt man was nominated for a Golden Globe and received the New York Film Critics Circle award for his performance. He previously was a best supporting actor Oscar nominee for 1978’s “Comes a Horseman.”
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Sean Penn
“Sweet and Lowdown”
The intense 39-year-old Penn receives his second best actor nomination for his comedic role as a ‘30s jazz guitarist in the Woody Allen comedy. Penn, who came to fame as a surfer dude in 1982’s “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” was nominated in this category for 1995’s “Dead Man Walking.” Penn was also nominated for a Golden Globe for “Sweet.”
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Kevin Spacey
“American Beauty”
A best supporting actor winner for 1995’s “The Usual Suspects,” Spacey picks up his first Oscar nomination in this category as a husband and father whose midlife crisis ends in tragedy. The actor, 40, was a Golden Globe nominee for his performance and is up for a SAG award.
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Denzel Washington
“The Hurricane”
A decade after receiving a best supporting actor Oscar as a slave serving in the Civil War in “Glory,” Washington is in the running to be only the second African American to win the best actor Oscar. Sidney Poitier won best actor 37 years ago for “Lilies of the Field.” Washington, 45, won the Golden Globe this year for his performance as fighter Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who was unjustly accused of a triple homicide.
BEST ACTRESS
Annette Bening
“American Beauty”
The actress, who is awaiting the birth of her fourth child by husband Warren Beatty, garners her first Oscar nomination in this category for her role as an ambitious, status-conscious wife in the acclaimed black comedy. Bening, 41, previously received a best supporting nomination for 1990’s drama “The Grifters.” A Golden Globe nominee for “American Beauty,” she is also up for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
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Janet McTeer
“Tumbleweeds”
The British actress, 38, garners her first Oscar nomination for her portrayal of a vivacious, carefree American divorced woman with a serious-minded young daughter. McTeer, who won a Tony Award for “A Doll’s House,” has already received a best actress honor from the National Board of Review, as well as the Golden Globe for best actress in a comedy or musical. She is also nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
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Julianne Moore
“The End of the Affair”
The versatile actress, 38, is honored with her first Oscar nomination in this category as a married British woman who enters into a guilt-ridden affair with a handsome novelist. Moore, who received a supporting actress nod two years ago for “Boogie Nights,” also garnered Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her role in the romantic drama.
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Meryl Streep
“Music of the Heart”
The mistress of accents receives her 12th Oscar nomination for her performance as a divorced mother who teaches violin to inner-city New York students in the fact-based drama. Streep, 50, previously won a best supporting award for 1979’s “Kramer vs. Kramer” and a best actress Oscar for 1982’s “Sophie’s Choice.” She is also a Golden Globe and SAG award nominee for the film.
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Hilary Swank
“Boys Don’t Cry”
A former regular on “Beverly Hills, 90210” who appeared in the movie “The Next Karate Kid,” Swank has literally come out of nowhere to receive a best actress Oscar nomination as well as the lion’s share of critics’ awards and the Golden Globe for her work as Brandon Teena, a woman who decided to live the life of a man. Swank, 25, is also nominated for a SAG award.