‘Benjamin Button’ and ‘Slumdog’ lead BAFTAs

“Slumdog Millionaire� and “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button� dominated the nominations Thursday for the BAFTAs -- the U.K.’s Oscar equivalent -- earning 11 each.

“Slumdog,� which swept the Golden Globes last weekend, was nominated for best film, outstanding British film, best director for Danny Boyle, lead actor for Dev Patel, supporting actress for Freida Pinto, adapted screenplay, cinematography, editing, music, production design and sound.

“Benjamin Button� earned nods for film, best director (David Fincher), lead actor for Brad Pitt, adapted screenplay, cinematography, costume design, editing, makeup and hair, music, production design and visual effects. Pitt also got a supporting actor nod for his comedic turn in “Burn After Reading.�

Rounding out the best picture category for the BAFTAs -- the British Academy of Film and Television Arts’ Orange British Academy Film Awards -- are “Frost/Nixon,� “Milk� and “The Reader.�

“Slumdog� will be vying for outstanding British film with “Hunger,� “In Bruges,� “Mamma Mia!� and “Man on Wire.�

Other director nominees are Clint Eastwood for “Changeling,� Ron Howard for “Frost/Nixon� and Stephen Daldry for “The Reader.�

Lead actor nominees include Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon,� Sean Penn for “Milk� and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.� Named in the lead actress category are Angelina Jolie for “Changeling,� Kristin Scott Thomas for “I’ve Loved You So Long,� Meryl Streep for “Doubt� and Kate Winslet for “Revolutionary Road� and “The Reader.�

Vying with Pitt in the supporting actor category are Robert Downey Jr. for “Tropic Thunder,� Brendan Gleeson for “In Bruges,� Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt� and Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight.�

Other supporting actresses: Amy Adams (“Doubt�), Penelope Cruz (“Vicky Cristina Barcelona),� Tilda Swinton (“Burn After Reading�) and Marisa Tomei (“The Wrestler�).

The winners will be named Feb. 8. For a complete list of nominees go to www.bafta.org. --

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