Oscar Nominees in Photos

Heath Ledger receives posthumous award

(NEWSER) - Slumdog Millionaire was the big winner at the Critics' Choice Awards last night, taking home five trophies, including best film and best director (Danny Boyle), MTV News reports. Heath Ledger, meanwhile, continued his posthumous honors, picking up best supporting actor (and a standing ovation) for his turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight. More»

Benjamin Button, Slumdog lead the pack

(NEWSER) - Exactly a year after his death, Heath Ledger has been nominated for an Academy Award, AP reports. Ledger's Supporting Actor nod was the only nom for The Dark Knight, while The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire rose to the top with 13 and 10 nominations respectively. Other nominees:

• Best Picture: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire
• 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

Streep, Hoffman earn nods; Pitt, Jolie, Penn join them

(NEWSER) - The Screen Actors Guild released its award nominees today, and left no Doubt which flick had the most star power in 2008. As with the Golden Globes, all four Doubt leads earned nods, which, combined with a best ensemble nomination, gave it the most potential honors overall. Brangelina again did well, with both halves of the power couple seeing nominations, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

Funny and un-funny moments abound at ceremony

(NEWSER) - Oscar night was filled with highs and lows, from the predictably inspirational moments when Kate Winslet finally won and Heath Ledger’s family received his posthumous award, to the cheap shot of producers cutting to Angelina Jolie’s face during Jennifer Aniston’s presenter speech. More from the Los Angeles Times. Best:

• Sean Penn opened his acceptance speech by greeting “you Commie, homo-loving sons-of-a-gun.”

Broadcast's ratings decline isn't helped by snub to Dark Knight

(NEWSER) - Producers of the Academy Awards are scrambling to add twists to a broadcast whose ratings decline won’t be helped by the lack of a blockbuster among the best-picture nominees, the New York Times reports. With the five nominees totaling less than half the box office of snubbed Dark Knight, sources say there’ll be more features aimed directly at the viewing audience. More»