Finally, the day has come.  For many of Hollywood’s elite, they started the day off finding out if their latest venture is Oscar worthy.  Brad Pitt must be happier than an orphan seeing Angelina as his wonderful movie, “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” nabbed 13 nominations.  “Slumdog Millionaire” which kicked butt at the Golden Globes, is nominated for 10 awards. 

Noticeably missing once again was Will Smith’s 7 Pounds.  After recently watching this movie and Smith’s performance I was quite shocked that is seems to have been completely passed over this awards season.  Another slight miss in my eyes is Cate Blanchet not receiving a nod for her work in Benjamin Button, although I was tickled pink to see Taraji P. Henson, who gave a great turn as Benjamin’s adopted mother in the movie, up for supporting actress.  And while it is the norm for only “serious” movie to be worthy of an Oscar nomination, how great would it have been to see Mama Mia in there somewhere?  After all, Robert Downey Junior is nominated for his role in Tropic Thunder, and no one can claim that was a masterpiece.

The winners will be announced at the gala event on February 22^nd, hosted by Hugh Jackman.  I have a feeling that Slumdog will once again clean up, but I have to say I’m puling for Pitt to nab best actor.   Here are the rest of the nominees in the main catagories:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ACTOR
Richard Jenkins – The Visitor
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn – Milk
Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie – Changeling
Melissa Leo – Frozen River
Meryl Streep – Doubt
Kate Winslet – The Reader

SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin – Milk
Robert Downey Jr. – Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt
Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road

SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams – Doubt
Penelope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis – Doubt
Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler

DIRECTOR
David Fincher
Ron Howard
Gus Van Sant
Stephen Daldry
Danny Boyle

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Courtney Hunt – Frozen River
Mike Leigh – Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin – In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black – Milk
Andrew Stanton – WALL-E

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord – Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley – Doubt
Peter Morgan – Frost/Nixon
David Hare – The Reader
Simon Beaufoy – Slumdog Millionaire

FOREIGN LANGUAGE
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz with Bashir

ANIMATED
Bolt
Kung Fun Panda
WALL-E