The Oscars red carpet is being rolled out in Los Angeles in a big night for Man or Muppet and New Zealander Bret McKenzie.
McKenzie,
who is one half of comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, wrote 'Man or
Muppet' for the film The Muppets, which has earned him a nomination for
best original song.
It is coming up against 'Real in Rio' from Rio,
the only other song nominated in the category, for the 84th Academy
Awards, which kick off in Los Angeles on Sunday (Monday NZT).
The low number of nominees has raised a few eyebrows in Hollywood.
Short
listed songs are rated and only nominated if they reach the threshold
of 8.25 out of 10. If only one song reaches that, the next closest is
also nominated.
Songs by artists Pink, Elvis Costello, Mary J Blige and an Elton John-Lady Gaga were snubbed.
McKenzie has says 'Man or Muppet' is his favourite song from the movie and he's delighted with the nomination.
Weta workshop's Joe Letteri is nominated for the sixth time in the visual effects category for Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
He is nominated with Weta's Dan Lemmon, R. Christopher White and Daniel Barrett.
If successful it would be Letteri's fifth win.
Peter
Jackson's collaboration with Spielberg, The Adventures of Tintin:
Secret of the Unicorn, was snubbed in the animated film category, with
its only nomination for best original score.
Billy Crystal is
hosting the ceremony. Best film contenders include black and white
silent film The Artist and racially-charged drama The Help.
NZN