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The rags-to-riches fairytale of Slumdog Millionaire entered a new chapter yesterday, when the film scooped 10 Oscar nominations and was installed as the odds-on favourite to be named best film at next month's Academy Awards.
Danny Boyle's stirring love story about a boy from the slums of Mumbai who is suspected of cheating on the Indian version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? looks set to continue its unlikely domination of the 2009 awards season.
The film, which opens in New Zealand on February 5, features no big stars, and includes large passages in Hindi, has already made US$45 million ($85 million) at the US box office, more than four times its production budget.
"It's just amazing," said the film's teenage star, Dev Patel, yesterday. "When we first began working on the film I don't think any of us ever imagined we might end up attending the Oscars ... I have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction."
The joy wasn't felt by some, however, as about two dozen slum residents protested the film outside the Mumbai home of Anil Kapoor, one of the film's stars, saying the title of the movie was an insult.
"I am poor, but don't call me slumdog," said Rekha Dhamji, 18. "I don't want to be referred to as a dog."
Meanwhile, Kate Winslet declared herself "thrilled" to be nominated as best actress for her portrayal of Nazi war criminal Hanna Schmitz in The Reader, which also scored nominations for its British director Stephen Daldry and writer David Hare.
"I'm extremely happy to have been nominated," she said.
"Playing Hanna Schmitz will always remain one of the biggest challenges I've ever been blessed with."
Winslet has never won an Oscar, despite being shortlisted five times.
The US election certainly seemed to help political films. Milk, the story of Harvey Milk, America's first openly gay elected politician, secured eight nominations, including nods for best film, and for Sean Penn as best actor.
The best overall showing yesterday went to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an epic adaptation of F. Scott-Fitzgerald's short story about a man who ages in reverse. It landed 13 nominations, including one for its lead actor, Brad Pitt.
Pitt's nomination opens up the intriguing possibility that both halves of "Brangelina" - the celebrity institution of his marriage to Angelina Jolie - might win the biggest acting prizes. Jolie was shortlisted in the best actress category for her performance in Changeling.
Pitt declared himself "especially happy for [director] David Fincher, for without him there would be no Ben Button."
Jolie had gushing words for her director. "Working with Clint Eastwood was a reward in itself that will last me a lifetime," she said.
It wasn't all good news for Eastwood, though, who was ignored by best actor judges for his performance in Gran Torino, which has been a commercial and critical hit, and is rumoured to be his last major role.
Perhaps the biggest surprise overall was the half-hearted showing of The Dark Knight.
As predicted the late Heath Ledger won a best supporting actor nomination but despite being the biggest box-office hit in years, the film secured just eight Oscar nods, mostly in technical categories. such as cinematography, visual effects and editing.
It failed to win its expected place on the best film shortlist.
Last year's US audience of 32 million for the Oscars represented the worst TV ratings in the event's 82-year history, and in an effort to jazz up the three-hour telecast, the producers have hired Hugh Jackman to present the show. -
- INDEPENDENT
- additional reporting AP
