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Welcome to theOscarSite's yearly Oscars® pages

This page covers the nominations for 2008.

If you wish, read my disclaimer
Use this link to view information on the Awards Ceremony for this year's nominees.
(81st Annual Academy Awards®)


 Use this link to go to my listing of every film and every person ever nominated for an Award! 
 Use this link to see all the films nominated for an Award this year and how they rank in nominations and Awards! 

[#, #] = number of nominations and Awards for the film

Best Motion Picture of the Year
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON [13,3] (Paramount and Warner Bros.), A Kennedy/Marshall Production, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall and Ceán Chaffin, Producers
 FROST/NIXON [5,0] (Universal), A Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment and Working Title Production, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard and Eric Fellner, Producers
 MILK [8,2] (Focus Features), A Groundswell and Jinks/Cohen Company Production, Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, Producers
 THE READER [5,1] (The Weinstein Company), A Mirage Enterprises and Neunte Babelsberg Film GmbH Production, Donna Gigliotti, Anthony Minghella, Redmond Morris & Sydney Pollack, Producers
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE [10, 8 - most for this year] (Fox Searchlight), A Celador Films Production, Christian Colson, Producer

Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
 Richard Jenkins in THE VISITOR [1,0] (Overture Films)
 Frank Langella in FROST/NIXON (Universal)
 Sean Penn in MILK (Focus Features)
 Brad Pitt in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
 Mickey Rourke in THE WRESTLER [2,0] (Fox Searchlight)

Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
 Anne Hathaway in RACHEL GETTING MARRIED [1,0] (Sony Pictures Classics)
 Angelina Jolie in CHANGELING [3,0] (Universal)
 Melissa Leo in FROZEN RIVER [2,0] (Sony Pictures Classics)
 Meryl Streep in DOUBT [5,0] (Miramax)
 Kate Winslet in THE READER (The Weinstein Company)

Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role
 Josh Brolin in MILK (Focus Features)
 Robert Downey Jr. in TROPIC THUNDER [1,0] (DreamWorks, Distributed by DreamWorks/Paramount)
 Philip Seymour Hoffman in DOUBT (Miramax)
 Heath Ledger in THE DARK KNIGHT [8,2] (Warner Bros.)
 Michael Shannon in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD [3,0] (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage)

Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
 Amy Adams in DOUBT (Miramax)
 Penélope Cruz in VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA [3,1] (The Weinstein Company)
 Viola Davis in DOUBT (Miramax)
 Taraji P. Henson in THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.)
 Marisa Tomei in THE WRESTLER (Fox Searchlight)

Achievement in Directing
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Fincher
 FROST/NIXON (Universal), Ron Howard
 MILK (Focus Features), Gus Van Sant
 THE READER (The Weinstein Company), Stephen Daldry
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Danny Boyle

Achievement in Writing: Original Screenplay
 FROZEN RIVER (Sony Pictures Classics), Written by Courtney Hunt
 HAPPY-GO-LUCKY [1,0] (Miramax), Written by Mike Leigh
 IN BRUGES [1,0] (Focus Features), Written by Martin McDonagh
 MILK (Focus Features), Written by Dustin Lance Black
 WALL·E [6,1] (Walt Disney), Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon; Original story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter

Achievement in Writing: Adapted Screenplay
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Screenplay by Eric Roth, Screen story by Eric Roth and Robin Swicord
 DOUBT (Miramax), Written by John Patrick Shanley
 FROST/NIXON (Universal), Screenplay by Peter Morgan
 THE READER (The Weinstein Company), Screenplay by David Hare
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year
 BOLT [1,0] (Walt Disney), Chris Williams and Byron Howard
 KUNG FU PANDA [1,0] (DreamWorks Animation, Distributed by Paramount), John Stevenson and Mark Osborne
 WALL·E (Walt Disney), Andrew Stanton

Achievement in Art Direction
 CHANGELING (Universal), Art Direction: James J. Murakami; Set Decoration: Gary Fettis
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Donald Graham Burt; Set Decoration: Victor J. Zolfo
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Art Direction: Nathan Crowley; Set Decoration: Peter Lando
 THE DUCHESS [2,1] (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Art Direction: Michael Carlin; Set Decoration: Rebecca Alleway
 REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Art Direction: Kristi Zea; Set Decoration: Debra Schutt

Achievement in Cinematography
 CHANGELING (Universal), Tom Stern
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Claudio Miranda
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Wally Pfister
 THE READER (The Weinstein Company), Chris Menges and Roger Deakins
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement in Costume Design
 AUSTRALIA [1,0] (20th Century Fox), Catherine Martin
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Jacqueline West
 THE DUCHESS (Paramount Vantage, Pathé and BBC Films), Michael O'Connor
 MILK (Focus Features), Danny Glicker
 REVOLUTIONARY ROAD (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount Vantage), Albert Wolsky

Best Documentary Feature
 THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON) [1,0] (Cinema Guild), A Pandinlao Films Production, Ellen Kuras and Thavisouk Phrasavath
 ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD [1,0] (THINKFilm and Image Entertainment), A Creative Differences Production, Werner Herzog and Henry Kaiser
 THE GARDEN [1,0] A Black Valley Films Production, Scott Hamilton Kennedy
 MAN ON WIRE [1,1] (Magnolia Pictures), A Wall to Wall Production, James Marsh and Simon Chinn
 TROUBLE THE WATER [1,0] (Zeitgeist Films), An Elsewhere Films Production, Tia Lessin and Carl Deal

Best Documentary Short Subject
 THE CONSCIENCE OF NHEM EN [1,0] A Farallon Films Production, Steven Okazaki
 THE FINAL INCH [1,0] A Vermilion Films Production, Irene Taylor Brodsky and Tom Grant
 SMILE PINKI [1,1] A Principe Production, Megan Mylan
 THE WITNESS - FROM THE BALCONY OF ROOM 306 [1,0] A Rock Paper Scissors Production, Adam Pertofsky and Margaret Hyde

Achievement in Film Editing
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Lee Smith
 FROST/NIXON (Universal), Mike Hill and Dan Hanley
 MILK (Focus Features), Elliot Graham
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Chris Dickens

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year
 DER BAADER MEINHOF KOMPLEX (THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX) [1,0] A Constantin Film Production, Germany
 ENTRE LES MURS (THE CLASS) [1,0] (Sony Pictures Classics), A Haut et Court Production, France
 OKURIBITO (DEPARTURES) [1,1] (Regent Releasing), A Departures Film Partners Production, Japan
 REVANCHE [1,0] (Janus Films), A Prisma Film/Fernseh Production, Austria
 VALS IM BASHIR (WALTZ WITH BASHIR) [1,0] (Sony Pictures Classics), A Bridgit Folman Film Gang Production, Israel

Achievement in Makeup
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Greg Cannom
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), John Caglione Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
 HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY [1,0] (Universal), Mike Elizalde and Thom Floutz

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures: Original Score
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Alexandre Desplat -  Play selection
 DEFIANCE [1] (Paramount Vantage), James Newton Howard -  Play selection
 MILK (Focus Features), Danny Elfman -  Play selection
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), A.R. Rahman -  Play selection
 WALL·E (Walt Disney), Thomas Newman -  Play selection

Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures: Original Song
 "Down to Earth" from WALL·E (Walt Disney), Music by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, Lyric by Peter Gabriel -  Play selection
 "Jai Ho" from SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar -  Play selection
 "O Saya" from SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Music and Lyric by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam (M.I.A.) -  Play selection

Best Animated Short Film
 LA MAISON EN PETITS CUBES (THE HOUSE OF SMALL CUBES) [1,1] A Robot Communications Production, Kunio Katô
 UBORNAYA ISTORIYA - LYUBOVNAYA ISTORIYA (LAVATORY - LOVESTORY) [1,0] A Melnitsa Animation Studio and CTB Film Company Production, Konstantin Bronzit
 OKTAPODI [1,0] (Talantis Films) A Gobelins, L'école de l'image Production, Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
 PRESTO [1,0] (Walt Disney) A Pixar Animation Studios Production, Doug Sweetland
 THIS WAY UP [1,0] A Nexus Production, Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best Live Action Short Film
 AUF DER STRECKE (ON THE LINE) [1,0] (Hamburg Shortfilmagency), An Academy of Media Arts Cologne Production, Reto Caffi
 MANON SUR LE BITUME (MANON ON THE ASPHALT) [1,0] (La Luna Productions), A La Luna Production, Elizabeth Marre and Olivier Pont
 NEW BOY [1,0] (Network Ireland Television), A Zanzibar Films Production, Steph Green and Tamara Anghie
 THE PIG [1,0] An M & M Production, Tivi Magnusson and Dorthe Warnø Høgh
 SPIELZEUGLAND (TOYLAND) [1,1] A Mephisto Film Production, Jochen Alexander Freydank

Achievement in Sound Editing
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Richard King
 IRON MAN [2,0] (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), Frank Eulner and Christopher Boyes
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Tom Sayers
 WALL·E (Walt Disney), Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
 WANTED [2,0] (Universal), Wylie Stateman

Achievement in Sound Mixing
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce and Mark Weingarten
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo and Ed Novick
 SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (Fox Searchlight), Ian Tapp, Richard Pryke & Resul Pookutty
 WALL·E (Walt Disney), Tom Myers, Michael Semanick and Ben Burtt
 WANTED (Universal), Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño and Petr Forejt

Achievement in Visual Effects
 THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON (Paramount and Warner Bros.), Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton and Craig Barron
 THE DARK KNIGHT (Warner Bros.), Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber and Paul Franklin
 IRON MAN (Paramount and Marvel Entertainment), John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick and Shane Mahan

Testimonial Awards
Honorary Award (Statuette): No Award presented for 2008

Irving G. Thalberg Award: No Award presented for 2008

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Jerry Lewis

Scientific and Technical Awards
(Presented at The Beverly Wilshire on 7 February 2009)

Academy Award of Merit (Statuette): No Award presented for 2008

Scientific and Engineering Awards (Academy Plaques):
 To Erwin Melzner for the overall concept including the optical and cooling systems, Volker Schumacher for the optical design, and Timo Müller for the mechanical design, of the Arrimax 18/12 lighting fixture for use in motion picture production.
 To Jacques Delacoux for the concept and electronic design, and Alexandre Leuchter for the software and electronic design, of the Transvideo-video assist monitors for the motion picture industry.
 To Bruno Coumert and Jacques Debize for the optical design, and Dominique Chervin and Christophe Reboulet for the mechanical design, of the compact and lightweight Angenieux 15-40 and 28-76 zoom lenses for handheld motion picture photography.

Technical Achievement Awards (Academy Certificates):
 To Steve Hylén for the concept and his continued leadership in the further development of the Hylén Lens System for motion picture effects photography.

Award of Commendation (Special Plaque):
 No Award given for 2008

John A. Bonner Medal of Commendation (Medallion):
 To Mark Kimball, for his outstanding service and dedication in upholding the high standards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Gordon E. Sawyer Award (Statuette):
 To Ed Catmull, for his lifetime of technical contributions and leadership in the field of computer graphics for the motion picture industry.

  FIRSTS
· Dustin Lance Black faces new competitors in the Original Screenplay category. He won the Writers Guild award for his work on Milk, but none of the other Oscar®-nominated screenplays were WGA nominees. So after besting the Coens (Burn After Reading), Woody Allen (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Tom McCarthy (The Visitor) and Robert Siegel (The Wrestler), Black had to face 4 new competitors for the Oscar.
· Janusz Kaminski becomes the first Director of Photography to be a presenter on Awards Night.

MOSTS
· Maryl Streep extends her lead as the most-nomianted performer, receiving her 15th acting nomination for Doubt.
· WALL·E garners nominations in 6 categories, the most ever for an animated feature film.


And, of course, here's the place where I have to put the disclaimer: This page was created for my own personal use and was intended for educational and entertainment purposes only. "Oscar" and "Academy Awards" are registered trademarks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The "Oscar" Statuette is copyrighted by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. These pages are neither authorized nor endorsed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I cannot take responsibility for any errors or omissions on these pages; i.e., if you lose a bet because of something I missed, don't expect me to pay it off!

This page is compiled by Gary Moody. If you have comments or questions about the page, please e-mail me at gary@theoscarsite.com.