Academy Awards 2009 Nominations

Academy Award 2009 Nominations Review

2009 Academy Award Nominees Announced; 2009 Oscar Nominees Unveiled in Hollywood Thursday Morning. While most of us were still bleary eyed, slurping down our first cups of coffee (if we were even awake) Forest Whitaker and Academy president Sid Ganis announced the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater Thursday.

BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE Nominees

- Richard Jenkins–The Visitor

- Frank Langella–Frost/Nixon

- Sean Penn–Milk

- Brad Pitt–The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

- Mickey Rourke–The Wrestler

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Nominees

- Josh Brolin–Milk

- Robert Downey Jr.–Tropic Thunder

- Philip Seymour Hoffman–Doubt

- Heath Ledger–The Dark Knight

- Michael Shannon–Revolutionary Road

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE Nominees

- Anne Hathaway–Rachel Getting Married

- Angelina Jolie–Changeling

- Melissa Leo–Frozen River

- Meryl Streep–Doubt

- Kate Winslet–Revolutionary Road

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE Nominees

- Amy Adams–Doubt Penelope Cruz–Vicky Cristina Barcelona

- Viola Davis–Doubt

- Taraji P. Henson–The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

- Marisa Tomei–The Wrestler

BEST DIRECTOR Nominees

- David Fincher–The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

- Ron Howard–Frost/Nixon

- Gus Van Sant–Milk

2009 Oscar Nominees Unveiled in Hollywood Thursday Morning

- Stephen Daldry–The Reader

- Danny Boyle–Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Nominees

- Frozen

- Happy-Go-Lucky

- In Bruges

- Milk

- Wall-E

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Nominees

- Eric Roth–The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

- John Patrick Shanley–Doubt

- Peter Morgan–Frost/Nixon

- David Hare–The Reader

- Simon Beaufoy–Slumdog Millionaire

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM Nominees

- Bolt

- Kung Fu Panda

- Wall-E

BEST MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR Nominees

- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

- Frost/Nixon

- Milk

- The Reader

- Slumdog Millionaire

Leading the 2009 Academy Award nominees was The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with 13 Oscar nominations. Button was followed up with Slumdog Millionaire with 10 Oscar nominations.

Perhaps the biggest surprises are the snubs for both Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in the film Revolutionary Road. Dark Knight was also overlooked for both Best Picture and Best Director, as was Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. First time Oscar nominee Anne Hathaway was a surprise as well, being recognized for the under-the-radar pic Rachel Getting Married.

As many predicted, Heath Ledger was nominated in the Best Actor category. The nod fittingly comes on the anniversary of his untimely death last year. For the most part, however, Dark Knight was largely ignored by the Academy proving that big budgets, big names and big box office don’t always predict Oscar gold.

The 81st Academy Awards are being held on February 22 and will be hosted by “Sexiest Man Alive” Hugh Jackman.

2009 Academy Award Nominees Announced; 2009 Oscar Nominees Unveiled in Hollywood Thursday Morning. While most of us were still bleary eyed, slurping down our first cups of coffee (if we were even awake) Forest Whitaker and Academy president Sid Ganis announced the nominees for the 2009 Academy Awards live from the Samuel Goldwyn Theater Thursday.