Oscar night could belong to 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Jan 22, 2009, 13:55 GMT

"I was born under unusual circumstances." And so begins "Benjamin Button," adapted from the classic 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards. A man, like any of us, unable to stop time. We follow his story set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the twenty-first century, following his journey that is as ...more

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' has been nominated for 13 Oscars.

The movie is up for an incredible haul of accolades at the 81st Academy Awards, including Best Director for David Fincher, Best Actor for lead star Brad Pitt and the coveted Best Picture prize.

The movie will go up against 'Frost/Nixon', 'Milk', 'The Reader' and 'Slumdog Millionaire' for Best Picture.

Rags-to-riches tale 'Slumdog Millionaire' received the second most nominations - which were announced at a ceremony in Beverly Hills today (22.01.09) - receiving nods in 10 different categories, including Best Director for British filmmaker Danny Boyle.

Heath Ledger - who died of an accidental prescription overdose last January - is posthumously up for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as The Joker in 'The Dark Knight'. Surprisingly, the critically-acclaimed Batman movie is not up for any of the other main accolades.

Double Golden Globe winner Kate Winslet will be hoping to take home her first Academy Award after being nominated for Best Actress for her performance in 'The Reader'.

She will go up against 'Rachel Getting Married' star Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep - who has been recognised for 'Doubt' - Melissa Leo in 'Frozen River', and Angelina Jolie, who received a nod for her performance in 'Changeling'.

Angelina's partner Brad faces competition for the Best Actor gong from 'The Wrestler' star Mickey Rourke, 'Milk' actor Sean Penn, Richard Jenkins, who has been recognised for 'The Visitor', and 'Frost/ Nixon' star Frank Langella.

The 81st Academy Awards take place on February 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood.

81st Academy Awards main nominations:

Best Picture:

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

'Frost/Nixon'

'Milk'

'The Reader'

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Actor:

Richard Jenkins 'The Visitor'

Brad Pitt 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Frank Langella 'Frost/Nixon'

Sean Penn 'Milk'

Mickey Rourke 'The Wrestler'

Best Actress:

Anne Hathaway 'Rachel Getting Married'

Melissa Leo 'Frozen River'

Meryl Street 'Doubt'

Angelina Jolie 'Changeling'

Kate Winslet 'The Reader'

Best Supporting Actor:

Josh Brolin 'Milk'

Robert Downey Jr. 'Tropic Thunder'

Philip Seymour Hoffman 'Doubt'

Heath Ledger 'The Dark Knight'

Michael Shannon 'Revolutionary Road'

Best Supporting Actress:

Amy Adams 'Doubt'

Penelope Cruz 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'

Viola Davis 'Doubt'

Taraji P. Henson 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Best Director:

David Fincher 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

Ron Howard 'Frost/Nixon'

Gus Van Sant 'Milk'

Stephen Daldry 'The Reader'

Danny Boyle 'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Animated Feature Film:

'Bolt'

'Kung Fu Panda'

'Wall-E'

Best Adapted Screenplay:

'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'

'Doubt'

'Frost/Nixon'

'The Reader'

'Slumdog Millionaire'

Best Original Screenplay:

'Frozen River'

'Happy-Go-Lucky'

'In Bruges'

'Milk'

'Wall-E'