George Clooney as Michael Clayton in Michael Clayton. This is his fourth nomination and the first in this category. In 2005, he won an Oscar for his supporting role in Syriana, and was also nominated for writing and directing Good Night, and Good Luck.

GEORGE CLOONEY (Michael Clayton / Executive Producer) is an Academy Award-winning actor, who has also been honored for his work as a writer, director and producer. He recently wrapped production on "Leatherheads," a romantic comedy set against the beginnings of American pro football, which he directed, produced and co-wrote. Clooney is also starring in the film opposite Renée Zellweger and John Krasinski. "Leatherheads" is the first film to be produced by Smoke House, the production company Clooney launched with Grant Heslov last year. Clooney will soon begin production on the Coen brothers’ dark comedy "Burn After Reading," in which he stars with Brad Pitt and Frances McDormand. The film marks his third collaboration with the Coens.

In 2006, Clooney earned three Academy Award nominations: Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for "Good Night, and Good Luck."; and Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Syriana." It marked the first time in Academy history that an individual received acting and directing nominations for two different films. Clooney won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar that year for his performance in "Syriana," on which he also served as executive producer. Clooney’s work on "Good Night, and Good Luck." and "Syriana" also brought him numerous other accolades. For the first, he garnered dual Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Director and Best Screenplay; nominations for both a Directors Guild of America Award and a Writers Guild of America Award; an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Director; and a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award nomination for Best Ensemble, shared with the cast. The Broadcast Film Critics Association also presented Clooney with its Freedom Award for "Good Night, and Good Luck." In addition, he won a Golden Globe Award and earned BAFTA, SAG and Critics’ Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Syriana."

Both films were produced under the banner of Section Eight, the production company in which Clooney was partnered with Steven Soderbergh. Section Eight also produced 2002’s "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," which marked Clooney’s directorial debut. For his directing work on that film, he won a Special Achievement in Film Award from the National Board of Review. Other Section Eight films included "Insomnia" and "Far From Heaven," which Clooney executive produced; "Ocean’s Eleven," "Ocean’s Twelve" and, most recently, "Ocean’s Thirteen"; "The Jacket"; "Full Frontal"; and "Welcome to Collinwood." For Section Eight’s television division, Clooney executive produced and directed five episodes of "Unscripted," a reality-based show that debuted on HBO in 2005. He was also an executive producer and cameraman for HBO’s "K Street."

Clooney previously won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his work in the Coen brothers’ acclaimed 2000 comedy "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" He also earned critical acclaim for his work in the award-winning drama "Three Kings" and the Oscar-nominated "Out of Sight," which was his first collaboration with Soderbergh. Clooney’s other film credits include the Coen brothers’ "Intolerable Cruelty," "Solaris," "The Peacemaker," "Batman & Robin," "One Fine Day" and "From Dusk Till Dawn." Clooney has starred in several television series but is best known for his five years on the hit NBC drama "ER." His portrayal of Dr. Douglas Ross earned him Emmy Award, Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations. Additionally, he was an executive producer and co-star of the live television broadcast of "Fail Safe," a 2000 telefilm based on the early 1960s novel of the same name. "Fail Safe" was nominated for both Golden Globe and Emmy Awards for Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television.

80th Academy Awards Oscar Nominations 2008

Best Picture

Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country For Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Best Animated Feature

Persepolis, Ratatouille, Surf's Up

Best Actress

Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age
This is her fifth nomination and the second in this category. She was also nominated for her leading role in Elizabeth (1998). Her supporting role nominations were for The Aviator (2004), for which she won the Oscar, and Notes on a Scandal (2006). She is also nominated this year in the supporting category for I’m Not There.

Julie Christie as "Fiona Anderson" in Away from Her
This is her fourth nomination in this category. Her other nominations were for Darling (1965), for which she won an Oscar, McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Afterglow (1997).

Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose
This is her first nomination.

Laura Linney as Wendy Savage in The Savages
This is her third nomination and the second in this category. She was nominated for her leading role in You Can Count on Me (2000) and her supporting role in Kinsey (2004).

Ellen Page ("Juno MacGuff" in Juno)
This is her first nomination.

Best Actor

George Clooney as Michael Clayton in Michael Clayton
George Clooney's fourth nomination and the first in this category. In 2005, he won an Oscar for his supporting role in Syriana, and was also nominated for writing and directing Good Night, and Good Luck.

Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood
This is his fourth nomination in this category. He won an Oscar for his performance in My Left Foot (1989) and was nominated for In the Name of the Father (1993) and Gangs of New York (2002).

Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
This is Johnny Depp's third nomination in this category. His other nominations were for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Finding Neverland (2004).

Tommy Lee Jones as Hank Deerfield in In the Valley of Elah
Tommy Lee Jones' third nomination and the first in this category. He was nominated for his supporting roles in JFK (1991) and The Fugitive (1993), for which he won the Oscar.

Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai in Eastern Promises
This is Viggo Mortensen's first Academy Award Oscar nomination.

 

MOVIE REVIEWS

Film Critic Michael Phillips: Step Brothers The Dark Knight Journey to the Center of the Earth Hancock WALL-E Get Smart The Incredible Hulk Kung Fu Panda Sex and The City: The Movie Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Iron Man   Production Notes: Wanted The Incredible Hulk Iron Man

 

2008 OSCAR WINNERS & NOMINEES

"No Country for Old Men" wins Best Picture, Best Director. Daniel Day-Lewis wins best actor for his role in "There Will Be Blood". Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton Win Supporting Role Academy Awards, "Ratatouille" awarded Oscar for Best Animation Feature. Best Picture Oscar Winner No Country For Old Men Best Picture Oscar Nominees Juno Michael Clayton There Will Be Blood Atonement Best Animated Feature Oscar Winner Ratatouille Best Animated Feature Oscar Nominees Persepolis Surf's Up Best Actress Oscar Winner Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose This is her first nomination & first Academy Award Best Actress Oscar Nominees Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age This is her fifth nomination and the second in this category. She was also nominated for her leading role in Elizabeth (1998). Her supporting role nominations were for The Aviator (2004), for which she won the Oscar, and Notes on a Scandal (2006). She is also nominated this year in the supporting category for I’m Not There. Julie Christie as Fiona Anderson in Away from Her his is her fourth nomination in this category. Her other nominations were for Darling (1965), for which she won an Oscar, McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Afterglow (1997). Laura Linney as Wendy Savage in The Savages This is her third nomination and the second in this category. She was nominated for her leading role in You Can Count on Me (2000) and her supporting role in Kinsey (2004). Ellen Page as Juno MacGuff in Juno This is her first Academy Award Nomination Best Actor Oscar Winner Daniel Day-Lewis as Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood This is his second Oscar and fourth nomination in this category. He previously won an Oscar for his performance in My Left Foot (1989) and was nominated for In the Name of the Father (1993) and Gangs of New York (2002). Best Actor Oscar Nominees George Clooney as Michael Clayton in Michael Clayton George Clooney's fourth nomination and the first in this category. In 2005, he won an Oscar for his supporting role in Syriana, and was also nominated for writing and directing Good Night, and Good Luck. Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street This is Johnny Depp's third nomination in this category. His other nominations were for Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) and Finding Neverland (2004). Tommy Lee Jones as Hank Deerfield in In the Valley of Elah Tommy Lee Jones' third nomination and the first in this category. He was nominated for his supporting roles in JFK (1991) and The Fugitive (1993), for which he won the Oscar. Viggo Mortensen as Nikolai in Eastern Promises This is Viggo Mortensen's first Academy Award Oscar nomination. Click Here for More "No Country for Old Men" wins Best Picture, Best Director. Daniel Day-Lewis wins best actor for his role in "There Will Be Blood". Javier Bardem, Tilda Swinton Win Supporting Role Academy Awards, "Ratatouille" awarded Oscar for Best Animation Feature.