After looking at today's announcement of the Oscar nominations, I'm left curious about a few things: How did Lars and the Real Girl get a Best Original Screenplay nod, but Knocked Up was knocked out? The list of Best Documentary Feature nominees, is further proof that social/political/war documentaries may not always click with the box office but they still click with critics and industry. File under "coincidence," the fact that Sundance short documentary La Corona received its nomination the same day it will have a reception in Park City. And, finally, when was the last time two people ever shared one Best Director nomination, or when a fake alias (Roderick Jaynes for Editing) was nominated for any prize (as is the case with Joel and Ethan Coen this year)?

I can definitely answer one of those trivia questions. The last time an alias was nominated was the last time Roderick Jaynes was nominated, in 1996 for Fargo. Even weirder though, has to be Donald Kaufman's nomination for writing Adaptation, since he doesn't exist at all.

Two come to mind:
Roderick Jaynes was nominated for FARGO. Also, P.H. Vazak was nominated for writing GREYSTOKE: LEGEND OF TARZAN. I'm not gonna tell you who was behind that pseudonym.

Good ol' Donald Kaufman was nominated along with his "brother" Charlie for Adaptation. Granted, this is the type of trivia that pops into my head when I'm not at Park City-level altitudes. Hope the festival's treating you well.

The last fictional person nominated for an Oscar (that I can remember) was Donald Kaufman for best adapted screenplay, which he shared with twin brother Charlie. I wish they'd won.