2022 Oscar nominations announced

Denzel Washington keeps making history.

The iconic actor, known for his roles in movies like "Training Day" and "Malcolm X," just picked up his 10th Academy Award nomination, this time for best actor in "The Tragedy of Macbeth" — making him the most nominated Black actor in Oscar history and breaking his own record.

Even before Tuesday's nominations were announced, Washington was the most nominated Black actor in history, receiving his ninth nod in 2018 for his work in "Roman J. Israel, Esq."

But even with this accomplishment, Washington hasn't actually won the award in 20 years. He only has two Oscar statues to show for his work — the first for "Glory," at the 1990 awards, and the second for "Training Day," in 2002.

With this year's nomination, Washington has now been nominated for the Academy Awards in every decade since the 1980s. His first was a supporting actor nod in 1988 for "Cry Freedom."

The Oscars historically have not been kind to Black actors. Though Sidney Poitier became the first Black man to win the best actor award in 1964, Washington was only the second in 2002. And only one Black woman has ever won the best actress award — Halle Berry, in 2002 for her work in "Monster's Ball."

The Oscars are about honoring the year's best movies, but they're also a TV show, devoted to attracting an audience that will benefit host network ABC and promote the movie business. And after record-low ratings in 2021, the old adage about the Lord helping those who help themselves comes to mind.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is surely feeling pressure to breathe some life back into ratings for the Oscars, and part of that plan has logically involved nominating movies that more people have actually seen. Yet despite expanding the best-picture category to 10 nominees, few of the major contenders in the nominations unveiled Tuesday morning meet that description — especially if it means having seen those films in theaters.

Before the nominations, producer Cassian Elwes — known for smaller-scale films like "Mudbound" and "Lee Daniels' The Butler" — tweeted that it was "shortsighted" for the Producers Guild's awards to overlook "the two terrific movies that saved the theatrical business this year," "Spider-Man: No Way Home" and "No Time to Die."

If you subscribe to that theory, the Oscars will be inordinately reliant on movies that have primarily reached audiences through streaming, with two Netflix titles, "Don't Look Up" and "The Power of the Dog," among the 10 nominees, joined by Apple's "Coda," and "King Richard" and "Dune," which premiered simultaneously in theaters and on HBO Max. (The last two are from Warner Bros., like CNN, part of WarnerMedia.)

Granted, the belief that popular movies are key to boosting Oscar ratings doesn't always hold true, although the most-watched telecast ever remains the year that "Titanic" sailed away with best picture. Yet it seems undeniable that hit films broadly help, giving potential viewers more of a rooting interest in who and what wins.

Continue reading Lowry's analysis here:

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Lin-Manuel Miranda is celebrating his Oscar nomination for the song he wrote for Disney's hit movie "Encanto."

Miranda is nominated for the song "Dos Oruguitas." This brings Miranda one step closer to potentially becoming a member of the elite "EGOT" group, stars who have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

In a tweet, Miranda said that he was grateful and also celebrated fellow nominees, Questlove, Ariana DeBose, Paul Tazewell, Germane Franco and Andrew Garfield.

"So many times I happy screamed for friends this morning," Manuel tweeted. "Grateful grateful grateful!"

Garfield is nominated for best actor for "Tick, Tick... Boom!" — which Miranda directed.

See Miranda's tweet:

Troy Kotsur was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in "CODA," becoming the first deaf man to earn an acting nomination and second deaf acting nominee after co-star Marlee Matlin.

Three of the central roles in "CODA" went to deaf actors: Matlin, an Oscar winner and perhaps the most famous working deaf actor in the US, Kotsur as her gruff fisherman husband and Daniel Durant, who plays her son.

Director Siân Heder said she was drawn to the story of "CODA" because there were so few films that had focused on a deaf family in that way.

"It was important to me to show how free and comfortable deaf spaces can be, and then how different that is once you introduce the barrier that the hearing world puts up," she said.

Read more about the film and deaf creators here:

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Ari Wegner, only the second female cinematographer to be nominated for an Oscar, said she "can hardly stand up" after her nod for "The Power of the Dog."

Cinematography is the only category that still exists for which a woman has never won an Academy Award.

Only 6% of the top 250 grossing films in the US last year had a female cinematographer, according to an annual report produced by The Center for the Study of Women in Television and Film at San Diego State University. To date, only one woman has been nominated by the Academy, Rachel Morrison for Dee Rees' "Mudbound" in 2017. 

Wegner also made history by becoming the first woman nominated for a BAFTA in cinematography.

CNN's Thomas Page contributed to this report

After being nominated for best director for "Belfast," Kenneth Branagh said his parents and grandparents would have been "overwhelmed by this incredible honour."

Branagh said:

"Belfast" is also up for best picture, original song, original screenplay and achievement in sound. Judi Dench and Ciarán Hinds were nominated for best supporting roles in the film.

Denzel Washington thanked the Academy for his best actor nomination in a role for "The Tragedy of Macbeth," calling the film "one of the best experiences of my career."

Washington extended the record he already holds as the most nominated Black actor, earning his tenth Oscar nomination for his performance in "The Tragedy of Macbeth." (One of his nominations was for producing.)

Olivia Colman's reaction to getting nominated for an Oscar for "The Lost Daughter?"

"Bloody brilliant."

In a statement to CNN, she said:

Jessie Buckley was nominated for supporting actress for "The Lost Daughter," playing a younger version of Colman's character.

Maggie Gyllenhaal directed the film.

Colman previously won an Academy Award for best actress for "The Favourite" in 2019.

Nicole Kidman, nominated for best actress for "Being the Ricardos," told CNN that playing the role of Lucille Ball was "the hardest role I've ever done" and that to be honored "this way is deeply appreciated."

"WOW! I'm so overwhelmed! Just having breakfast with my family when the nominations came in. What a beautiful way to find out! I share this with them, Javier, JK, Nina and with ALL the cast and Aaron Sorkin, as this is ours together. This was the hardest role I've ever done and to be honored this way is deeply appreciated," she said in a statement to CNN.

The actress also used a portion of her message to honor Ball's legacy and impact in Hollywood.

"And to everyone who worked on this film both in front of and behind the camera during, our passionate and hardworking crew, Amazon, Todd Black, Aaron Sorkin, this nomination is ours to share!" the actress continued in the message.