Oscars 2015: Bradley Cooper's threepeat, first-time nominees and more

Here are some unique odds, ends, facts and figuresabout Thursday's Oscar nominations:

Triple threat

Bradley Cooper's nomination for his leading rolein American Sniperis his third consecutive acting nod,following nominations for American Hustlein 2014 and SilverLinings Playbookin 2013. The previous performers to three-peatwere Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones' Diary,Chicago,ColdMountain) and Russell Crowe (The Insider,Gladiator,ABeautiful Mind).

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Eight is enough

For the first time since the academy expandedpossible best-picture nominees to 10 contenders in 2009, just eightfilms are up for the top prize in 2015. There were 10 contenders in2009, 2010 and 2011, while nine films vied for the trophy in 2012,2013 and 2014. The academy tweaked the rule in 2011 that films mustreceive a certain amount of first-place votes to receivebest-picture consideration.

Going for gold

Into the Woodscostume designer ColleenAtwood and Unbrokencinematographer Roger Deakins have the mostnods in their respective categories for living folks. Atwood is at11, while Deakins has 12. However, both have a few ceremonies to gobefore topping late costume designer Edith Head (35 nominations) orcinematographers Charles B. Lang Jr. and Leon Shamroy (18 nods).

First timers

In the acting categories, almost half of thenominees are up for their very first Academy Award, including SteveCarell (Foxcatcher), Benedict Cumberbatch (The ImitationGame), Michael Keaton and Emma Stone (Birdman), J.K. Simmons(Whiplash), Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones (The Theory ofEverything), Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) and Patricia Arquette(Boyhood).

11 shades of grey

Idais the eleventh predominantlyblack-and-white film to be nominated for a cinematography awardsince 1967, when the separate black-and-white category waseliminated. Idajoins In Cold Blood,The Last PictureShow,Lenny,Raging Bull,Zelig,Schindler's List,The Man Who Wasn't There,Good Night, and Good Luck,TheWhite Ribbonand The Artist.