14 DAY TRIAL // The awards season is just an inch away from reaching its highest pitch, with the Academy Awards nominations being announced by Forest Whitaker at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles. After weeks of intense speculation as to who would make the final cut and who would not, which has only got worse after the Golden Globes, the noms bring few surprises, although the competition is as fierce as ever.
Brad Pitt, Kate Winslet, Angelina Jolie, Mickey Rourke and the late Heath Ledger have all got nods in categories such as Best Actor / Actress and Best Supporting Actor / Actress. Pitt’s latest movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” is clearly one of the favorites, having scored no less than 13 nominations, including those for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture.
In this last category, “Benjamin Button” is going neck and neck with another critics’ favorite, “Slumdog Millionaire” and Sean Penn’s much debated “Milk,” which, despite its story (the Academy is known for turning a blind eye to projects that do not play by certain standards, and “Milk” certainly doesn’t do that), has got no less than eight nominations.
Angelina Jolie’s somehow overlooked “Changeling” has not passed unnoticed either, getting nods of approval both for Best Actress and for Cinematography. Kate Winslet is the leading British lady, with a nomination for Best Actress, while “The Reader” has also received a nod for Best Picture. In the Best Supporting Actress category, however, Winslet has been left out, contrary to previous speculation that she would get nods both for “The Reader” and “Revolutionary Road,” as it happened at the Golden Globes.
The winners of the 2009 Academy Awards will be announced on February 22. Until then, below is a list of nominations for all the major categories. For the complete list, go here.
Performance by an actor in a leading role:
- Richard Jenkins, “The Visitor” - Frank Langella, in “Frost/Nixon” - Sean Penn, “Milk” - Brad Pitt, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” - Mickey Rourke, “The Wrestler”
Performance by an actor in a supporting role: - Josh Brolin, “Milk” - Robert Downey Jr., “Tropic Thunder” - Philip Seymour Hoffman, “Doubt” - Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” - Michael Shannon, “Revolutionary Road”
Performance by an actress in a leading role:
- Anne Hathaway, “Rachel Getting Married” - Angelina Jolie, “Changeling” - Melissa Leo, “Frozen River” - Meryl Streep, “Doubt” - Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Performance by an actress in a supporting role:
- Amy Adams, “Doubt” - Penélope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” - Viola Davis, “Doubt” - Taraji P. Henson, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” - Marisa Tomei, “The Wrestler”
Best animated feature film of the year: - “Bolt” - “Kung Fu Panda” - “WALL-E”
Achievement in cinematography: - “Changeling” - “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” - “The Dark Knight” - “The Reader” - “Slumdog Millionaire”
Achievement in directing: - “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” David Fincher - “Frost/Nixon,” Ron Howard - “Milk,” Gus Van Sant - “The Reader,” Stephen Daldry - “Slumdog Millionaire,” Danny Boyle
Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score): - “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Alexandre Desplat - “Defiance,” James Newton Howard - “Milk,” Danny Elfman - “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman - “WALL-E,” Thomas Newman
Best motion picture of the year: - “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” - “Frost/Nixon” - “Milk” - “The Reader” - “Slumdog Millionaire”