"Django Unchained" Up For Four Oscar Nominations

The 2013 Oscar nominations are out and Quentin Tarantino's controversial spaghetti western is officially going for the gold.

"Django Unchained," a slavery/ love story set before the Civil War, was nominated for best picture, original screenplay, best cinematography and best supporting actor for Christoph Waltz, who plays the bounty hunter teacher to Jamie Foxx.

However, it seems VIBE cover stars Foxx, Kerry Washington and Leonardo DiCaprio, along with Samuel L. Jackson and the director himself, were M.I.A. in the categories for the Academy Awards.

"I don't feel like an outsider," Tarantino said in an interview with BBC when asked how he feels about being omitted from Best Director. "I was an independent filmmaker when I came out with 'Reservoir Dogs' and then in 'Pulp Fiction,' I had that kind of outsider's energy...but they didn't treat me as an outsider. They embraced me and were really applauding my success. Since then, I've been an upstanding member of the Hollywood community."

The flick has been a buzzy topic--even debuting its own dolls--among viewers and users for its depiction of history. While Tarantino seems impervious to the controversy, he says just getting the nod is satisfying. "The recognition and being invited to the party is enough."

For the full list of nominations, read here.