The 2009 Oscar Nominations: ‘Slumdog,’ ‘Button,’ ‘Penelope,’ ‘Rourke’

No major surprises at the 81st annual Academy Awards announcements. Some of the highlights were Spanish actress Penelope Cruz’s second nomination in her career, this time for Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a post-humous nod for Heath Ledger for his work in The Dark Knight, Slumdog Millionaire’s 10 nominatios and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button leading the way with 13 nominations.

Its competition in the best picture race includes the political dramas “Frost/Nixon” and “Milk,” the post-Holocaust tale “The Reader” and the Mumbai-set rags-to-riches story “Slumdog Millionaire.”

The best actor nominees include Richard Jenkins for “The Visitor,” Frank Langella for “Frost/Nixon,” Sean Penn for “Milk,” Brad Pitt for “Button” and Mickey Rourke for “The Wrestler.”

Best actress nominees are Anne Hathaway for “Rachel Getting Married,” Angelina Jolie for “Changeling,” Melissa Leo for “Frozen River,” Meryl Streep for “Doubt” and Kate Winslet for “The Reader.”

Winslet’s nomination for playing a former concentration camp guard in “The Reader” proved to be a particular surprise since the actress had been promoted for the lead actress slot for her performance in “Revolutionary Road,” while it had been suggested to the Academy that she be nominated for a supporting role “The Reader.”

This year, all the best picture nominees also earned their respective directors best director noms. Making the list are David Fincher for “Button,” Ron Howard for “Frost/Nixon,” Gus Van Sant for “Milk,” Stephen Daldry for “The Reader” and Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

Original screenplay
Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonough, In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Andrew Stanton, WALL-E

Adapted screenplay
Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
David Hare, The Reader
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign-language film
Baader Meinhof Complex, Germany
The Class, France
Departures, Japan
Revanche, Austria
Waltz With Bashir, Israel

Animated film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E