Benjamin Button leads Oscar nominations

The 2009 Academy Awards nominations have been announced and leading the pack with 13 is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Close behind in the nomination count is the charming Slumdog Millionaire, that notched 10 nominations including Best Picture.

Academy Award-winner Forrest Whitaker served as the veteran to make the announcements this morning from Hollywood.

The Best Picture nominees are a somewhat predictable bunch with Benjamin Button and Slumdog Millionaire, but the inclusions of Gus Van Zant's Milk and The Reader caught many observers by surprise.

Anne is in!

SheKnows favorite Anne Hathaway earned a nomination for her intense portrayal of a recovering drug addict attending her sister's wedding in Rachel Getting Married. Her competition is still in that category with heavyweights Meryl Streep (Doubt) and Angelina Jolie (The Changeling).

Brad Pitt issued a statement immediately after the nominations were announced. Pitt and Jolie will have a special night as both earned acting nominations.

"This is a great honor for the movie, and I'm especially happy for David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button," Pitt says.

After hearing her news, fellow Benjamin Button star Viola Davis says this: "I am very excited, deeply honored and grateful. I thank Laray Mayfield, David Fincher, Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to bring Queenie to life."

Bollywood in the house!

The Slumdog Millionaire creative staff were equally as exciting with their news.

Says producer Christian Colson: "It is wonderful to receive this amazing news here in Mumbai where we are premiering the movie tonight. All the film-makers are deeply proud of this recognition which we also hope will bring great joy to the people of this great city. A huge thank you to the Academy... and Jai Ho!"

Slumdog Millionaire Director Danny Boyle was also quite emotional. "I'm ecstatic! Thank you to the Academy from the cast and crew here in Mumbai where the film was made and where it's being premiered tonight.
It feels like you've given us a billion nominations!"

The 2009 Academy Award nominations

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

Best Actor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

Best Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Melissa Leo, Frozen River

Best Supporting Actor
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Josh Brolin, Milk
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk

The awards will be handed out February 22, and don't miss SheKnows Goes to the Shows, our complete coverage of the 2009 Oscars.