No Oscar nominations are likely for this one, unless it picks up some for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, but it would be truly wonderful to see an unexpected nod for Best Original Screenplay for co-authors Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard (which would be entirely reasonable).

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Michael Haneke's keenly observed love story is also up for best picture, best direction, best actress in a leading role (for 85 year-old Emmanuelle Riva) and best original screenplay.

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Director Kathryn Bigelow, whose The Hurt Locker won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, tells us the story of the multi-year, global hunt for Osama bin Laden, seen through the eyes of CIA analyst Maya.

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Affleck first made his name as the co-writer of Good Will Hunting, for which he and co-star Matt Damon won an Oscar for best original screenplay.

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Unflinching and in French, it was a surprise best-picture nominee, and also received nominations for Haneke's direction, for original screenplay and for the performance of 85-year-old Riva.

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