2009 Golden Globe Nominations Led by Benjamin Button, Doubt

The Golden Globes are thought of as both a trifle and a precursor to the all important Oscars. The Golden Globes are more loosy-goosy than the Oscars, more likely to announce nominations for big stars, and more likely to have some nominations out of left field. All three of those factors were in place today as the 2009 Golden Globe Nominations were announced.

With categories in both movies and television, the most Golden Globe nominations any movie or program had was 5. On the movie side, Oscar favorites like The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button, Doubt and Frost/Nixon had 5 Golden Globe nominations, with Revolutionary Road, Slumdog Millionaire and The Reader getting 4.

Best Picture Drama at the Golden Globes had all of those movies nominated except Doubt. Benjamin Button had nominations for director David Fincher and star Brad Pitt. Frost/Nixon had nods for director Ron Howard and star Frank Langella, while Revolutionary Road got Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet and director Sam Mendes in.

Winslet was a double Golden Globe nominee for Revolutionary Road and The Reader, which surprised with nominees for Best Picture Drama and director Stephen Daldry. Anoher double nominee was Meryl Streep for Doubt and Mamma Mia.

The Golden Globes also nominated all three of Streep's co-stars in Doubt, which included Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viola Davis. But Doubt itself was snubbed for Best Picture.

Woody Allen had a big Golden Globes showing with Vicky Christina Barcelona getting in for Best Picture Comedy. Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall, and Best Supporting Actress favorite Penelope Cruz were also nominated by the Golden Globes.

Some surprising Golden Globe snubs were for Milk, which only got a nomination for Sean Penn, but not for Best Picture, director Gus Van Sant, or supporting actors Josh Brolin and James Franco. The Dark Knight was snubbed for Best Picture and director Christopher Nolan, and will only be represented by Heath Ledger.