"Atonement" nominated in 14 categories
LONDON (AP) -January 16, 2008 "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood" and "The
Bourne Ultimatum" also received multiple nods for Britain's
equivalent of the Oscars, organizers announced Wednesday.
The BAFTA prizes, to be awarded at London's Royal Opera House on
Feb. 10, are considered an important indicator of Academy Award
prospects. The British awards have a higher-than-usual profile this
year with the Hollywood screenwriters' strike muting the
traditional glamour of the U.S. show-business awards season.
In an eclectic field of nominees, Joel and Ethan Coen's noir
western "No Country for Old Men" received nine nods, including
best director and three best supporting performer nominations, for
Javier Bardem, Tommy Lee Jones and Kelly Macdonald.
Historical epic "There Will be Blood" also received nine
nominations, including best actor for Daniel Day-Lewis.
"Atonement," adapted from Ian McEwan's literary tearjerker
about an ill-starred romance played out against the backdrop of
World War II, was nominated for best picture and best British
picture. Stars Keira Knightley and James McAvoy were nominated in
the acting categories, and Joe Wright was shortlisted for best
director.
"Atonement" won the best-picture prize at the Golden Globe
Awards on Sunday, although Knightley and McAvoy lost out on the
acting prizes.
The full list of best-picture nominees is "Atonement," "There
Will Be Blood," "No Country for Old Men," crime epic "American
Gangster" and German drama "The Lives of Others."
The best-actor contenders are McAvoy, Day-Lewis, George Clooney
for "Michael Clayton," Viggo Mortensen for "Eastern Promises"
and the late Ulrich Muhe for "The Lives of Others."
Leading actress nominees are Knightley, Cate Blanchett for
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age," Julie Christie for "Away from
Her," Marion Cotillard for "La Vie En Rose" and newcomer Ellen
Page for "Juno."