'The Power of the Dog' topped the Oscar nominations. We asked Jane Campion how it feels
LOS ANGELES — On Tuesday "The Power of the Dog" received 12 Oscar nominations, the most of any film this year. Jane Campion was nominated for director, adapted screenplay and best picture. In the acting categories, Benedict Cumberbatch is up for lead actor, Kirsten Dunst for supporting actress and Jesse Plemons and Kodi Smit-McPhee for supporting actor.
Also nominated were Jonny Greenwood for score, Ari Wegner for cinematography, Peter Sciberras for editing, Grant Major for production design and Richard Flynn, Robert Mackenzie and Tara Webb for sound.
In the film, set in 1925 Montana, Cumberbatch plays Phil Burbank, a Montana rancher who torments Rose (Dunst), the new wife of his brother, George (Plemons). After being particularly cruel to her son, Peter (Smit-McPhee), Phil seems to take the youth under his wing, showing him the ways of the ranch.
In Sydney, Australia, Campion was asleep when the nominations were announced but was reached by phone later in the day.
Q: What does it mean to you to see the film recognized so broadly with 12 nominations?
A: Well, it really did bring a tear to me. I felt really emotional and a sort of gratitude actually that the academy have so
