"Button" Leads Oscars with 13 Noms

As expected year after year, surprises were witnessed when the Oscar nominees were announced Thursday morning, January 22 (PT).

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" leads the Oscar race this year with 13 nominations including Best Picture and Best Actor for Brad Pitt.

Its contenders for Best Picture are "Frost/Nixon", "Milk", "The Reader" and "Slumdog Millionaire."

Pitt is up against Richard Jenkins in "The Visitor", Frank Langella in "Frost/Nixon", Sean Penn in "Milk" and Golden Globe winner Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler."

Unfortunately, Kate and Leo weren't nominated for their roles in "Revolutionary Road." The movie was also snubbed for Best Picture and Best Director for Kate's husband, Sam Mendez.

However, Winslet gets a nod in "The Reader" for Best Actress. Critics say that this could be her year for an Oscar win after receiving 5 nominations in the last 14 years since "Sense and Sensibility." Fellow nominees are Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married", Angelina Jolie in "Changeling", Melissa Leo in "Frozen River" and Meryl Streep in "Doubt."

After winning a posthumous Best Supporting Actor trophy in the Golden Globes last week, Heath Ledger is again in the Oscar shortlist of five. Other Supporting Actors nominated are Josh Brolin in "Milk", Robert Downey Jr. in "Tropic Thunder" (laughs were heard when his name was announced), Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Doubt" and Michael Shannon in "Revolutionary Road."

The Best Supporting Actress race are packed with two Oscar winners, one Oscar nominee and two first-timers.

Up for an Oscar this year are Amy Adams in "Doubt" (won in "Junebug"), Penélope Cruz in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" (nominated in "Volver"), Viola Davis in "Doubt", Taraji P. Henson in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and Marisa Tomei in "The Wrestler" (won in "My Cousin Vinny").

Danny Boyle gets an Oscar nomination for his masterpiece "Slumdog Millionaire" that has inspired many underdogs. Also nominated are David Fincher in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", Ron Howard in "Frost/Nixon", Gus Van Sant in "Milk" and Stephen Daldry in "The Reader."

Winners will be presented on February 22 (PT) with host Hugh Jackman.

For a complete list of nominees, go to Oscar.com.