MANHATTAN — From a controversial film about 9/11 to Woody Allen's latest comic foray, New Yorkers and movies about the Big Apple were hoping to strike Oscar gold at the Academy Awards Sunday evening.
Tom Hanks' "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," which details the journey of a child, Oskar Schell (Thomas Horn), who lost his father Thomas Schell (Hanks) on 9/11, was up for Best Picture.
The film courted controversy when the Tribute WTC Visitors Center warned that the intense images in the film could cause flashbacks.
DNAinfo later screened the film with a first responder who lost his brother-in-law in the Twin Towers, who said he did not believe the movie, which also earned a Best Supporting actor nod for Max Von Sydow, was exploitative.
Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," starring Owen Wilson, was up for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as other awards. Producers Letty Aronson and Stephen Tenenbaum are native New Yorkers.
Also getting a best picture nod was Martin Scorsese's "Hugo," about a young Parisian boy who lives in one of the city's train stations, Gare Montparnasse. Scorsese was up for Best Director for the flick as well.
Brooklynite Michelle Williams was nominated for Best Actress for her work in the Marilyn Monroe picture "My Week with Marilyn."
She is facing off against Rooney Mara — a member of the Mara family that owns the New York Giants — for her role in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."
"Saturday Night Live" funny lady Kristen Wiig got a screenplay writing nod for "Bridesmaids" as did J.C. Chandor for "Margin Call," about a Wall Street firm caught up in the 2008 financial crisis.
