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Heath Ledger, Rachel Griffiths and Melissa George have been nominated for Golden Globes, but Nicole Kidman, Baz Luhrmann, Hugh Jackman and their epic Australia were snubbed at the Golden Globes nomination ceremony.
Cate Blanchett was also a surprise omission. Blanchett was expected to be nominated for a best actress Golden Globe for her new film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but missed out despite the movie picking up five nominations, including best drama and a best actor for co-star Brad Pitt.
Ledger looks on track to score a posthumous Oscar, with Golden Globes voters nominating him for best supporting actor for his striking portrayal of villain The Joker in the latest Batman blockbuster, The Dark Knight.
Ledger's father, Kim, said the late actor's family was "so proud".
"This nomination is deeply appreciated and is not lost on those of us who continue to love and miss him," Kim Ledger told People magazine.
"We are so proud our boy's work is being recognised in this way."
In past years the Golden Globes have been reliable indicators of the coming Oscars.
The failures of Kidman, Jackman and director-screenwriter Luhrmann to win Golden Globe nominations and Australia missing out in the best picture race follows their epic's disappointing box office opening in North American theatres, with the US$130 million ($242.17 million) film making just US$31 million in its crucial first two weeks.
It also highlights Kidman's slide from Hollywood's highest-paid actress in 2007, to her new image of being box office poison after the mediocre opening of Australia and poor results with other recent projects. Last week a Los Angeles Times columnist declared Kidman was "not a movie star".
Brandon Walters, the 13-year-old star of Australia, also missed out in the supporting actor category.
The best actress in a drama nominations went to: Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married), Angelina Jolie (Changeling), Meryl Streep (Doubt), Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long) and Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road).
Joining Brad Pitt in the best actor category are: Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road), Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon), Sean Penn (Milk) and Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler).
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button will compete against Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire and Revolutionary Road for best picture in drama.
Another major snub was Tom Cruise for his new war drama, Valkyrie. Cruise did pick up a best supporting actor nomination for his hilarious portrayal of an obese, foul-mouthed Hollywood studio executive in Tropic Thunder.
His co-star in the film, Robert Downey Jr, was also nominated in the supporting category.
The Golden Globes also celebrates TV, and Griffiths and George will carry the Australian flag at the ceremony. They will go head to head in the supporting actress TV category, with Griffiths nominated for her series Brothers and Sisters and George for In Treatment.
- AAP
