Feb. 19--There are some traditions without which the Oscars just wouldn't feel the same: A-list stars sashaying down the red carpet. A long-winded winner getting played off the stage by the orchestra. And, of course, Meryl Streep being in the mix for an acting award.
With her supporting role as the Witch in "Into the Woods," Streep this year garnered her 19th nomination. In doing so, she burnished her reputation as the most nominated actor in Oscar history (with 19) and the most visible member of a select group of performers, craftspeople and filmmakers who seem to be perennial contenders. Here's a look at some other repeat nominees vying for hardware this year.
"American Sniper" leading man Bradley Cooper is back with his third consecutive acting nomination, following his supporting turn in "American Hustle" and his lead role in "Silver Linings Playbook." The most recent performers to score three consecutive nods were Ren饠Zellweger (2001-03) and Russell Crowe (1999-2001), both of whom went one-for-three.
If Cooper is to do the same, he'll have to go through four first-time nominees: front-runners Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne as well as Steve Carell and Benedict Cumberbatch.
As Streep knows well, a history of racking up nominations is no guarantee of ultimate success. In her 18 previous tries, she has won three times, and this year she's an underdog to first-time nominee Patricia Arquette of "Boyhood."
Then there's Roger Deakins, who has been called the Susan Lucci of cinematography. Although the "Unbroken" lensman boasts the most cinematography nominations of any living person -- 12 -- he has yet to win an Oscar. The all-time record for nominations in the category is 18, shared by Charles B. Lang Jr. and Leon Shamroy.
A prolific artist, Deakins has scored seven Oscar nods in the last eight years, including two in 2008. This year he faces stiff competition again, including the reigning champ, "Gravity" cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki, nominated for "Birdman" this year. "Chivo," as Lubezki is known, is a seven-time nominee.
OSCARS 2015: Complete list -- Ballot -- Cheat Sheet
Veterans also will square off in the costume design race: Colleen Atwood of "Into the Woods" has 11 nominations (with three wins). But not far behind is Milena Canonero ("The Grand Budapest Hotel"), who boasts nine nominations, with three wins. Atwood and Canonero, however, have a long way to go before they catch the late costume designer Edith Head, who notched 35 nods and eight wins.
A few of this year's nominees find themselves competing against themselves. Composer Alexandre Desplat, looking for his first Oscar in eight tries, is nominated for his scores for "The Imitation Game" and "The Grand Budapest Hotel." (His opponents include 10-time nominee and one-time winner Hans Zimmer for "Interstellar.")
The other double nominees this year are Anna Pinnock, set decorator of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Into the Woods," and sound mixers Jon Taylor and Frank A. Montano of "Birdman" and "Unbroken."
oliver.gettell@latimes.com
