Updated: Four Locals Nominated for Oscars

Updated, Jan. 25

After posting this story, we heard from a reader that Katonah resident James Spione was also nominated for best documentary short for his film, "Incident in Baghdad." Thanks to Stephanie Susanjara for letting us know, and congratulations to James Spione!

First story, Jan. 24

The Oscar nominations are out, and this year's picks include four natives of Bedford. And one more, by association.

is nominated for Best Actress for her performance as a computer hacker in "Girl With a Dragon Tattoo." She'll compete against Glenn Close, another Bedford resident, for "Albert Nobbs"; Viola Davis, "The Help"; Meryl Streep, "The Iron Lady" and Michelle Williams, "My Week With Marilyn."

(If she takes the golden statue on Feb. 26 and the New York Giants win the Super Bowl on Feb. 5, it will be quite the month for Mara, great-granddaughter of the football team's founder and the daughter of Timothy Christopher Mara, the Giants' vice president of player evaluation!)

Joe Berlinger of Katonah is also nominated for Best Documentary Feature for his film, "Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory," which told the story of three men jailed then later released after the murder of three boys in West Memphis, TN.

Read a Patch interview with

He'll go up against "Hell and Back Again," "If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front," "Pina," and "Undefeated."

Last—but not least—Bret McKenzie's work, "Man or Muppet," was nominated for Best Original Song and was performed by none other than Peter Linz of Katonah, in the newest film in the Muppet movie franchise.

Reached Tuesday afternoon, Linz said, "I still don't know if Jason [Segel] and I will get to sing "Man or Muppet" at the Acadamy Awards. But regardless, I'm so excited for Bret McKenzie!  My "nomination by association" as I've been referring to it, is surprisingly quite a thrill."

The Oscars air Feb. 26 on ABC.