Oscar 2019: The Regulars

Bradley Cooper has earned three Oscar nominations this year, as Actor, Director and Producer of 'A Star is Born'. This takes his total tally to seven nominations without a win. Earlier he was nominated as a Producer on 'American Sniper' and for his performances in 'American Sniper', 'American Hustle' and 'Silver Linings Playbook'. 

Amy Adams has had six nominations without a win ('Junebug', 'Doubt', 'The Fighter', 'The Master', 'American Hustle' and this year's 'Vice'). Glenn Close had her first nomination in 1982 for 'The World According to Garp'. But despite five more nominations in the next thirty-five years ('The Big Chill', 'The Natural', 'Fatal Attraction', 'Dangerous Liaisons' and 'Albert Nobbs'), she has never won. 'The Wife' gives her her seventh nomination.

But this post is not about stars. It is about the unsung heroes. Since 2015, I have run this annual post to celebrate the biggest non-actor names nominated for the Oscars, those working behind the camera. You can click here to revisit those posts for the respective years: 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Here are the personalities who have earned their ninth nomination or more with this year's Oscars:


9 Nominations

• Frank A Montano (Sound Designer): Despite eight nominations (for 'Under Siege', 'The Fugitive', 'Clear and Present Danger', 'Batman Forever', 'Wanted', 'Unbroken', 'Birdman' and 'The Revenant') between 1993 and 2016, and working on films like 'Gladiator' and 'A Beautiful Mind', Montano has never won. Will 'First Man' give him his first Oscar?  
• Daniel Sudick (VFX Supervisor): Since 2004, Sudick has been nominated regularly ('Master and Commander: the Far Side of the World', 'War of the Worlds', 'Iron Man', 'Iron Man 2', 'The Avengers', 'Iron Man Three', 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' and 'Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2') without winning even once. He will hope 'Avengers: Infinity War' changes that for him.

10 Nominations

• Greg Cannom (Makeup Artist): After three wins under his name (for 'Dracula', 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button') and six other nominations (for 'Hook', 'Hoffa', 'Roommates', 'Titanic', 'Bicentennial Man' and 'A Beautiful Mind'), Cannom worked on international projects like 'Coming Home', 'Kapoor & Sons' and 'Fan'. With 'Vice' he will hope to win the trophy back after a ten-year gap.
• Alfonso Cuaron (Director and more): Cuaron's first nomination was for the screenplay of 'Y tu mama tambien' (2001). He then earned an editing nomination and another screenplay nomination for 'Children of Men' (2006). 'Gravity' (2013) gave him two wins (directing, editing) and one nomination as its producer. With 'Roma' (2018), he has earned four nominations (producer, director, cinematographer, writer) and will expect two win a couple of those, including the foreign-language Oscar.
• Alexandre Desplat (Music Composer): Ten nominations in the last thirteen years! 'The Queen'. 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'. 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'. 'The King's Speech'. 'Argo'. 'Philomena'. 'The Imitation Game'. 'The Grand Budapest Hotel'. 'The Shape of Water'. Won for the last two. Will 'Isle of Dogs' be his third?
• Scott Rudin (Producer): The Oscar-winning producer of 'No Country for Old Men' has also been nominated for 'The Hours', 'True Grit', 'The Social Network', 'Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close', 'Captain Phillips', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel', 'Fences' and 'Lady Bird' - all in Best Picture category. 'Isle of Dogs' gives him his tenth nomination, this time as Best Animated Feature Film.
• Diane Warren (Singer-Songwriter): Grammy? Yes. Emmy? Yes. Golden Globe? Yes. But despite ten nominations in 32 years, no Oscar. Most likely this time too she won't win. She has been nominated for the song "I'll Fight" from 'RBG' and most likely will lose to Lady Gaga with whom she shared a nomination three years ago.

14 Nominations

Sandy Powell (Costume Designer): After winning thrice ('Shakespeare in Love', 'The Aviator' and 'The Young Victoria') and being nominated for films like 'Gangs of New York', 'Hugo' and 'Carol', Powell will hope to win her fourth Oscar. She is nominated for 'The Favorite' as well as 'Mary Poppins Returns' this time.


15 Nominations

Joel Coen and Ethan Coen (Directors and more): With 'Fargo', 'O Brother, Where Art Thou', 'No Country for Old Men', 'A Serious Man', 'True Grit' and 'Bridge of Spies', the two brothers have earned writing, editing, directing and best picture nominations. 'The Ballad of Buster Scruggs' has earned them their seventh screenplay nomination and fifteenth overall. They have won four Oscars already.