* The nominations for this year’s British Academy Film Awards have been revealed. Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel leads the charge, scoring a robust 11 nominations. The critically acclaimed comedy will be going toe-to-toe with some stiff competition in the Best Film category. Birdman, Boyhood, The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything are also up for that coveted prize. (The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything are also in the running for the Best British Film award.) The Leading Actor category features Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) facing off against Benedict Cumberbatch (The Imitation Game), Eddie Redmayne (The Theory of Everything), Michael Keaton (Birdman) and Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler). Battling it out for the Leading Actress prize are Amy Adams (Big Eyes), Julianne Moore (Still Alice), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl), Felicity Jones (The Theory of Everything) and Reese Witherspoon (Wild). Surprisingly absent from this year’s BAFTA nominee rollout is Selma. The Martin Luther King focused drama has scored rave reviews and boasts Oscar buzz galore, but the BAFTAs snubbed the film across the board. Stephen Fry will be hosting the 2015 BAFTA Awards on February 8 in London. [Variety]
* Selma may have been snubbed by the BAFTAs, but a friendlier spotlight was placed on the film today thanks to the film’s stars appearing on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo and Oprah Winfrey chatted with Ellen about the Ava DuVernay directed historical drama. Oyelowo opened up about the emotional impact he felt in the scenes where he shared the screen with people that actually took part in the civil rights marches of the 1960s. “To be on that bridge with some of the people who actually did it… This only happened 50 years ago, so people in their 60s, 70s marched with us — insisted in the boiling heat to march with us again, because for them it was full circle,”; said the man earning praise for his portrayal of MLK. He also revealed that the presence of Oprah on the set provided a special atmosphere. “For some of them to see you there marching with them, considering who you are and what you’ve achieved, and to be right there with them was just extraordinary for everyone present.”; Speaking of Oprah, did you know that David Oyelowo does an amazing impression of The Almighty O? He does! Check it out and watch Ellen crack up seeing it live. [The Wrap]
* It’s good to be The King. (Y’know, aside from the whole being dead part.) Elvis Presley’s legacy continues to be source of some serious cash being thrown around and now The Big E’s first recording has been sold for a whopping $300,000. The prized possession, an acetate disc from 1953 featuring the ballad “My Happiness,”; was sold at a Graceland auction on what would have been the rock legend’s 80th birthday. The winning bid came courtesy of an undisclosed buyer. [Rolling Stone]
