Wolfgang Petersen is a German film director, producer and screenwriter. He was nominated for two Academy Awards for the World War II submarine warfare film Das Boot. 

And even Moonstruck - for some reason the audience were just in the mood for a very romantic film because it's one of the few romantic comedies to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

Moonstruck... was one of the few romantic comedies to be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.

You know I respect what Howard Dean has been able to do. It's good for our party. But I've got to tell you this: If money alone decided presidential nominations Phil Gramm would have been nominated in '96.

The principles of a free constitution are irrecoverably lost when the legislative power is nominated by the executive.

If nominated I will not run if elected I will not serve.

For 'So Cold the River ' I'm actually working on adapting the book with Scott Silver who was just nominated for an Oscar for 'The Fighter ' and who also wrote '8 Mile ' which I think is a terrific screenplay. The chance to work with Scott is a tremendous pleasure and I'm learning a lot.

I feel an obligation to set the record straight. Actors that say they're affected by something that it changes their life that they take it home with them they're just trying to get nominated for an Oscar!

No matter how popular you are as a stand-up - you can go out and fill a 10 000-seat arena and be smart and funny - it's delicate to host an awards show and know where your place is and know that it's not about you that it's about the people who are nominated and respect that but at the same time have your moment to show them who you are.

Well I have a CBE and I accepted it with glee because it's not bestowed on you by the royal family it's not bestowed on you by the government you have to be nominated by the public.

Mum and dad thought I was going to say I was pregnant. I said oh no no I've just been nominated for a Golden Globe. They were like oh that's lovely love.

Just because you've made a couple movies you've done some good movies you've been nominated for some Academy Awards whatever nobody's entitled. It's a business. If they don't see it I can think they're wrong but I'm not entitled to a $15 million budget to make a film.

Beauty and the Beast became the first animated feature ever nominated for best picture.

Well it was the beginning of my film career. It was amazing to me that I got nominated for an Academy Award.

If Martin Scorsese calls I am available. And then there the ones well you can just run down the list - any of those Oscar-nominated films they have amazing directors across the board.

I guess winning an Oscar is the ultimate dream. A lot of amazing actors go their whole career without even being nominated. So that would definitely be a goal to reach. It's a difficult one but I'm aiming for it!